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 improved casing brake mechanism (10) is provided for selectively engaging and braking the movement of a casing (14) applied over a casing horn (12) during filling of the casing (14). The mechanism (10) includes a pair of resilient, laterally spaced apart, obliquely oriented, annular casing-engaging rings (16, 18) which are selectively compressed and caused to engage a casing (14) by means of a thrust assembly (20) including a pair of separate, co-acting thrust elements (62, 68); the thrust elements (62, 68) are moved in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of horn (12) by means of a source of pressurized air (P). A remotely actuatable, three-position valve (80) is preferably employed, which allows alternate and selective connection to the pressurized air source (P), an atmospheric vent (A), and a source of vacuum (V).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for facilitating production of natural casings used for making pork sausage and the like where a sheath is used in association with the casings. A flat sheet with longitudinal edges, shapes, and shapes permitting the sheet to be rolled into a sheath is rolled into a sheath having a tubular shape and at least slight overlap of the longitudinal edges of the flat sheet. The casing is placed on the sheath, which permits the sheath to be put over the nozzle of a filling pusher for sausage preparation. The process allows casings to be reconstructed by wetting when applied to the nozzle. Casings do not have to be kept in salt brine. A related device is disclosed also.

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: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for supplying casings to a stuffing device having a stuffing tube for stuffing a content into a casing. The apparatus includes a supplying member having an arranging surface for arranging thereon a plurality of casings between an upstream portion and a downstream portion and having a restricting portion for preventing the casing to be fitted over the stuffing tube from moving in a downstream direction; and an axis extending at a distance from, and along a longitudinal direction of, the restricting portion. The supplying member is rotatable about the axis between a position in which the casing located at the restricting portion is aligned with the stuffing tube on the one hand, and another position on the other.

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: A casing brake is disclosed for use in combination with a generally tubular stuffing horn over which casing is released for filling with material discharged from the horn. The brake is of the type which includes a rigid housing which retains a deformable insert that fits over the horn and cooperates with the horn to engage the casing against the horn. Thus casing brake includes a first annular insert that has a throughbore with a circumferential groove on the inside of the throughbore with a second annular inner member which is comprised of a helical coil positioned within the groove, the inner member preferably being comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene with the outer member being elastically deformable with respect to the inner member to thereby alter the effective diameter of the groove causing an increase or decrease the diameter of the coil which, in turn, more loosely or more tightly grips the outside surface of the casing as it passes over the horn.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for eliminating used steam and condensate from a frankfurter peeler is provided having a jacket utilizing a source of vacuum for receiving exhaust steam and condensate from an extension of a perforate frankfurter conditioning chamber and for discharging said exhaust steam and moisture having been used for conditioning a frankfurter for removal of its cellulosic casing prior to packaging.

Abstract: A device for filling a tubular casing with a pasty product comprising a stuffing horn, a brake which encircles the outside of the stuffing horn in the vicinity of the orifice thereof, and a coaxial, cylindrical support tube accommodating a tubular net, which support tube is arranged at a distance from the outside of the stuffing horn and extends over the length of the stuffing horn to an end in the vicinity of the orifice of the stuffing horn, the brake being located at said end of the support tube. The invention enables the tubular net to continuously applied to the tubular casing during the stuffing operation.

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: The encased product of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible casing cylindrically shaped substantially along its length and having opposite end closures. A product material fills the cavity formed by the flexible casing and maintains the casing in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical casing is formed from an elongated strip of flexible material having opposite side edges, the strip being formed into a finished tubular casing with the side edges of the strip within each casing frictionally overlapping and engaging the side edges thereof. The product is formed by continuously applying an elongated flexible ribbon to the outer cylindrical surface of a stuffing tube at a canted angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube and rotating the flexible ribbon at the point where it is applied to the stuffing tube so that it will wrap around the tube in a plurality of helical revolutions to form a cylindrical casing on the tube.