Packaged folding casing

Abstract

A folded casing, shirred to form a stick, is packaged in a packaging net ( 10 ). The two net ends ( 12, 13 ) which are opposite to one another are welded ultrasonically. A strip ( 14 ), consisting of the same material as the packaging net 10, is also welded ultrasonically to at least one of the new ends 12 or 13.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A packaged folded casing comprising: 
 a folded casing at least partially shirred to form a stick which, after deshirring, can be stuffed with a product; and    a packaging for the folded casing comprising a net having two ultrasonically welded net ends disposed opposite to one another.    
     
     
         2 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a strip welded ultrasonically to at least one net end.  
     
     
         3 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the strip comprises the same material as the packaging.  
     
     
         4 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the strip is printed.  
     
     
         5 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the strip is printed with a bar code, logo, company name, trade name, and/or trademark.  
     
     
         6 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the strip is made from a different material from the packaging and wherein the strip and one net end are welded together ultrasonically.  
     
     
         7 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the packaging is tubular and extensible and has a diameter in the range of from 30 to 200 mm.  
     
     
         8 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the diameter corresponds to the diameter of the folded casing stuffed with the product.  
     
     
         9 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the packaging comprises one or more plastics selected from the group consisting of HDPE, polyethyene terephthalates, and polyamides.  
     
     
         10 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a strip welded ultrasonically to each of the two net ends.  
     
     
         11 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the product which stuffs the folded casing is a sausage meat emulsion.  
     
     
         12 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the folded casing includes a shirred portion and a non-shirred portion.  
     
     
         13 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the non-shirred portion is pleated along the longitudinal axis of the casing and is folded back into the interior of the shirred portion.  
     
     
         14 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stick has an outer diameter of from 30 to 200 mm.  
     
     
         15 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the length of the stick is from 80 to 90 mm.  
     
     
         16 . A packaged folded casing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the folding density of the folded casing is from 30 to 40.