Apparatus and method for applying liquid to sausage

Abstract

An apparatus for co-extruding a liquid around a periphery of a stream of meat as the meat is extruded into a casing includes a collar, a tube end connected within the collar, and a co-axial stuffing tube having a proximal end connected to the tube end. The stuffing tube has concentric inner and outer layers and a longitudinal channel between the inner and outer layers extending from the proximal end of the stuffing tube to a distal end of the stuffing tube. A liquid inlet port in the collar is in fluid communication with the longitudinal channel. Methods include co-extruding the liquid from the longitudinal channel at a distal end of the stuffing tube as the stream of meat is extruded from within the inner layer of the stuffing tube such that the liquid and the meat are not combined until both are extruded into a casing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for co-extruding a thin layer of liquid around a periphery of a stream of meat as the stream of meat is being extruded into a casing, the method comprising the steps of:
 co-extruding a stream of meat from a central space inside an inner layer of a co-axial stuffing tube while at the same time extruding a liquid from a longitudinal channel between the inner layer and an outer layer of the co-axial stuffing tube through perforations in the outer layer proximate a distal end of the co-axial stuffing tube.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a liquid through a liquid inlet port to the longitudinal channel between the inner layer and the outer layer of the co-axial stuffing tube such that the thin layer of liquid is formed around a periphery of the stream of meat as the stream of meat is being extruded. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perforations extend around the periphery of the outer layer such that the thin layer of liquid is formed around a periphery of the stream of meat as the stream of meat is being extruded. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing a path of one or more canals fluidly connecting the liquid inlet port to the longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rotating the co-axial stuffing tube about a longitudinal axis of the co-axial stuffing tube. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising preventing the co-axial stuffing tube from rotating about a longitudinal axis of the co-axial stuffing tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling a volume of the liquid inlet into the longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of controlling the volume of the liquid inlet into the longitudinal channel comprises providing a pump, a metering device and a control system on a movable platform. 
     
     
         9 . A sausage extrusion method comprising the steps of:
 distributing a liquid around a periphery of a co-axial stuffing tube in a longitudinal channel between an inner layer and an outer layer of the stuffing tube;   pumping a meat emulsion into a central space within the inner layer of the stuffing tube;   placing a casing over a distal end of the stuffing tube; and   at the same time, co-extruding the liquid through perforations in the outer layer proximate the distal end of the stuffing tube and the meat emulsion through the distal end of the stuffing tube into the casing.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the perforations extend around the periphery of the outer layer so the liquid coats an inner surface of the casing as the meat emulsion is extruded from the stuffing tube into the casing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of preventing the liquid and the meat emulsion from combining until both are extruded into the casing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising rotating the stuffing tube about a longitudinal axis of the stuffing tube. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising preventing the stuffing tube from rotating about a longitudinal axis of the stuffing tube. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising controlling a volume of the liquid in the longitudinal channel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising controlling a flow rate of the liquid through the perforations. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the steps of controlling the volume and controlling the flow rate comprise providing a pump, a metering device and a control system on a movable platform.