Abstract: Method and apparatus for voiding food product from the tail of a stuffed casing including a single pair of voider gates which close after the stuffed casing is gathered and a first closure is applied. The closed voider gates move to progressively constrict casing extending from the closure to strip any food product therein back to the stuffing horn and then a second closure is affixed to the constricted and stripped casing.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for successively supplying substantially equal portions of a flowable comminuted product such as sausage from a source thereof to a delivery zone is disclosed wherein dual product portioning chambers (80, 88, 82, 90) are provided which function such that as meat to be portioned is directed into a first chamber which increases in volume to a predetermined extent, portioned meat is delivered from the other chamber as it decreases in volume to the same predetermined extent. Means (114) is provided externally of the chambers for substantially equalizing the increase and decrease of the effective product-receiving volume of each of the chambers.

Abstract: In a stuffing machine for stuffing comminuted material in casing to form chubs, the machine comprising a stuffing horn for the passage of comminuted material and for the provision of casing, a casing brake for controlling casing withdrawal from the horn in relation to the exiting of comminuted material from the horn means, a clip applying apparatus for applying upstream and downstream clips to the casing and a looper assembly for applying loops to the upstream clip. The machine also includes a product support comprising a helical spring mounted adjacent the discharge end of the casing brake defining and extending along the path of the stuffed casing, the spring having a diameter sized to permit the spring to surround the stuffed casing exiting the casing brake and having a lateral strength to support the stuffed casing.

Abstract: A dual piston device (10) for handling and casing of flowable materials such as whole muscle meat products is provided which eliminates the problem of tailing, or creation of a tail of meat product extending outwardly from a casing adjacent an endmost clip. The device (10) includes a transfer conduit (20) having a slidable transfer piston (26) therein, together with an auxiliary conduit (34) connected to the transfer conduit (20) intermediate the ends thereof. The auxiliary conduit (34) is equipped with a deaerating severing piston (42). The pistons (42, 26) are configured to mate and coact so as to cleanly sever whole muscle meat pieces which may otherwise lie in the open end of a casing in the region thereof to be clipped.

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: 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.

Abstract: A stuffing method and apparatus utilizing a trio of stuffing horns mounted on a turret. Two of the horns are in stuffing positions and the production of stuffed products alternates between these two horns wherein stuffed casing from one horn is closed while casing is being stuffed at the other. The third horn is available for receiving a supply of casing and is moved into a stuffing position by indexing the turret.

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.