Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a packaging product from a packaging-material web may include a production device for making the packaging-material web; a drawing device for drawing the packaging-material web off from a packaging-material source; a deforming device for deforming the packaging-material web; a removal conveying device for removing the packaging-material product from the apparatus; and/or a dispensing device for dispensing the packaging-material product in an aligned manner; and using a module interface, via which at least one of the functional units, forming a structural unit, can be connected in a releasable manner to an adjacent functional unit upwards and/or downwards in the conveying direction and/or changed over therewith.

Abstract: A clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products is provided, comprising gathering means for forming a plait-like portion from tubular packaging casing filled with filling material and a closing unit for applying at least four closure means to the plait-like portion. Moreover, a guide unit is provided for guiding closure means to a closing unit of a clipping machine, being configured to supply at least two closure means to a first closing device of the closing unit and at least two further closure means to a second closing device of the closing unit. There is also provided a method for producing sausage-shaped products, comprising filling a portion of tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing with filling material, forming a plait-like portion therefrom and applying at least two closure means to a first section of the plait-like portion while substantially simultaneously applying two closure means to a second section of the plait-like portion.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device (1) for portioning a food product (3) continuously extruded from a filling apparatus, preferably for making meat-base elongated extrusions in form of sausages, frankfurters and the like, wherein two front and opposed pincers (4) carry out a succession of neckings onto the extrusion (3), via outwardly and inwardly reciprocating alternate motions therebetween parallel, carried out by plural gearings, the kinematic motion enabling the pincers (4) to carry out axial displacement s concomitantly to said reciprocating motions, so as to follow the extruded product (3) in the feeding direction thereof and in predetermined lengths which are variable by variably adjusting the angular velocities of said gearings.

Abstract: A method and device for stuffing meat materials into sausages closed by stapling. The processed meat materials, before their introduction into an endless sleeve having a first closed extremity and further narrowing of the stuffed material at regular intervals by spaced staples to produce a line of stuffed elements, are previously subjected to a cutting step at regular intervals of the continuous flow of meat material to be stuffed into the sleeve, making the cuts coincide with posterior zones of narrowing. The device for implementing the process includes a stuffing zone with continuous flow of meat materials, from a stuffing machine through an outlet tube introduced into the sleeve, having a first closed extremity, and includes between the outlet tube of the stuffing machine and the stuffing zone, a guillotine assembly intended to cut transversally the meat material.

Abstract: A separating device for separating sausages at division locations with at least two conveying belts moving into the same direction for transporting a sausage string and with at least two separator elements which are driven so that for cutting the sausage string they cooperate at division locations, and means which provide a distance between the conveying belts during the cooperation of the separator elements in the region of the division location to be separated which distance is greater than the diameter of the sausage, and a process for separating sausages.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for portioning a food mass, comprising: a path to be traversed by the food mass which is connected on one side to a feed device for feeding the food mass for portioning; a cutting device incorporated in the path for severing the food mass situated in the path; and a channel incorporated in the path which is connected to the feed device at its feed end and which is open at its other end, wherein control means are arranged in order to control the feed means and the cutting device such that the distance between successive cuts made in the food mass is adjustable. The invention further relates to a cutting device for severing a food mass situated in a channel, comprising a cutting blade which extends substantially perpendicularly of the axis of the channel and which is movable substantially parallel to itself, wherein the cutting blade is formed by a plate provided with at least one hole.

Abstract: Whole muscle slicing is accomplished in order to provide a plurality of meat slices, each of which is a single piece of meat, despite the fact that the muscle from which the slices originate had been reshaped prior to slicing in order to enhance slicing yield from each such muscle. The invention is particularly useful in forming roast beef slices which are used in preparing weight-controlled food products such as sandwiches.

Abstract: A method for stuffing food product into a tubular food casing at a predetermined linear rate of movement of stuffed food product, closing the stuffed food product to segregate the stuffed food product into links while the stuffed food product continues to move at said predetermined rate. The invention also includes an improved food product stuffing machine which stuffs food product into a tubular food casing at a predetermined linear rate of movement of stuffed food product, a closing device which applies closures to the stuffed food product to segregate the stuffed food product into stuffed food product links while the stuffed food product continues to move at said predetermined rate. After clipping, means is provided for returning the closing device to an original position to repeat the operation after another desired length of casing is stuffed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing sausages, wherein a tubular sausage casing closed at one end and provided with a figurative print is filled with sausage meat by pressing the sausage meat through the open end of the sausage casing into the same, where the sausage casing is carried along against the resistance of a casing brake and, corresponding to markers on the sausage casing, filled partial lengths of the sausage casing are divided off by compressing and closing them and are subsequently cut off from the remaining sausage casing, which process is characterized in that each filled partial length (sausage) is weighed after having been cut off, and the weight difference between a predetermined desired weight and the actual weight of the partial length is determined, and that the braking force of the casing brake is increased when the actual weight of the filled partial length is smaller than its desired weight, but is decreased when the actual weight is larger than the desired weight, until th

Abstract: In the manufacture and use of tubular casing material, a starting material having heat-shrinkable properties is partially shrunk to a controlled reduced calibre and then is further shrunk during use. The shrinking may either take place during use, for example by partially shrinking tubular film material over a stuffing horn 2 in a shrinker 6 (FIG. 1) or may be carried out during manufacture by partially shrinking a length of tubular film material to a controlled reduced calibre before sale (FIGS. 2 and 3).

Abstract: In a method for the continuous automated manufacture of stuffed food casings containing imprinted labels, wherein tubular material for the casings from a supply source is axially shirred into sections and the sections are stuffed with food emulsion into divided off portions, the improvement comprising measuring linear motion of the casing as the portions are filled with food emulsion; inputting the measured motion to a programmable logic controller; within the programmable logic controller, calculating an approximate distance between eye-mark bars separating the individual portions, where the calculation is based upon a known distance between eye-mark bars; based upon the calculated approximate distance and the measured motion, selectively sensing eye-mark bars which separate individual casings while ignoring printed label material between eye-mark bars; and, clipping individual sections of the casing closed at precise locations in response to the sensing of eye-mark bars to accurately position the labels bet

Abstract: A method for severing tubular material around a rigid mandrel. The method comprises piercing the film with a knife such that the edge of the knife faces away from the mandrel, rotating the knife about the mandrel in a direction toward the knife edge while cutting the tubular material from inside of the tubular material to the outside of the tubular material and continuing said rotating until the tubular material is completely severed. In a preferred embodiment the tubular material is held stationary from at least the time of said piercing until at least the time that the tubular material is completely severed. In a further preferred embodiment, the tubular material such as a food casing is inflated to provide a space between the tubular material and the mandrel. The invention further includes an apparatus for practicing the method of the invention.

Abstract: Severing a shirred stick of sausage casing from casing feed stock joined to the stick is accomplished by cutting a longitudinal slit in the feed stock adjacent the shirred stick. A tear is initiated at some point spaced around the casing from the slit and the tear is allowed to propagate in opposite directions from that point around the casing and into the slit. The result is that the severed ends of casing are each free of loose shards of casing.

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: 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 through a shirring zone and tension applied to tear the casing apart along the line of perforations. The result is that the severed ends of casing each have an edge which has a crenellated profile for at least a portion of its length and which is substantially free of casing shards that or likely to separate from the casing during a conventional stripping operation.

Abstract: A cutting assembly for severing a chain of linked articles joined together by joining segments, the linked articles and joining segments being comprised of a semi-rigid casing, for example, collagen, the cutting assembly having a pair of knives positioned perpendicular to the path of movement of the linked articles, the distance between the knives adjustable to accommodate joining segments of differing lengths, the knives being activated upon registration of the joining segments between the knives to sever the joining segments from adjacent linked articles.

Abstract: An annular container mounted at the base of a passage between a layering tube and a central mandrel is charged with a layered tube of flexible tubing delivered over a floating mandrel when coaxially in contact with mandrel by driving rollers coacting with pinch rollers on the floating mandrel. The tubing passes over the mandrel and gathers in the layering tube while being compacted by two sets of shoes reciprocated 180.degree. out of phase by rotating discs and connecting rods. When sufficient tubing has been delivered the floating mandrel is raised to enable a hot wire to pass between the mandrels to sever the tubing. The layering tube and central mandrel with the container can then be carried by a turntable through further stationary positions where the layered tubing is further compressed by reciprocable rings, a lid is put on the container to form a cassette and the cassette is discharged.