Process and apparatus for automated manufacture of link sausages having casings formed of synthetic tubular material

Abstract

An apparatus for producing link sausages first shirs previously unshirred tubular material and then conveys the shirred tubular material to a stuffing horn at which it is filled with forcemeat. A first station has the shirring structure. A transfer structure conveys the shirred material to another location at which the stuffing takes place. The filled sausages are closed off and conveyed away.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for the production of link sausages, comprising .Iadd.in combination.Iaddend.: .[.a.]. shirring means for receiving an unshirred tubular length of sausage casing material and shirring .[.it, forming.]. .Iadd.said material to form .Iaddend.folds .[.taken.]. in the axial direction,   a stuffing horn .Iadd.in proximity to the shirring means .Iaddend.for receiving forcemeat and delivering the forcemeat into the .Iadd.shirred .Iaddend.tubular .[.sausage casing.]. material .[.thereon.].,   .Iadd.means for positioning shirred tubular material from the shirring means to the stuffing horn, .Iaddend.   means for positioning .Iadd.said stuffing horn with .Iaddend.the shirred tubular material .[.on the stuffing horn with the stuffing horn positioned.]. .Iadd.thereon .Iaddend.at .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.location .[.to receive.]. .Iadd.for receiving and delivering .Iaddend.forcemeat .[.and deliver it.]. into the tubular casing material.[.,.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.filling the tubular casing and pulling out the .[.shirring.]. folds,   .[.and clamping.]. means for closing off .[.the.]. filled sections of the tubular casing .[.to form the.]. .Iadd.for forming .Iaddend.separate sausage links,   the location of the stuffing horn during filling of said shirred tubular casing thereon being spaced from the location at which the shirring means forms a length of shirred tubular casing material, so that a further length of tubular casing material can be shirred by the shirring means while the first .Iadd.of .Iaddend.said shirred length of tubular casing material is being filled with forcemeat and formed into .[.separate.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.sausage links,   and .[.including.]. means for mounting a source of flattened, unshirred tubular casing material and delivering .[.the same.]. .Iadd.it .Iaddend.to the shirring means, and moistening means .Iadd.positioned .Iaddend.between the source .Iadd.of casing material .Iaddend.and the shirring means for moistening the tubular casing material to a moisture content sufficient for the step of filling the tubular casing material with forcemeat.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1 including means for delivering air into the length of tubular material as it approaches the shirring means. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for the production of link sausages, comprising: a shirring means for receiving an unshirred tubular length of sausage casing material .[.and.]..Iadd., .Iaddend.shirring .[.it, forming.]. .Iadd.said material to form .Iaddend.folds .[.taken.]. in the axial direction,   .[.a stuffing horn.]. .Iadd.first and second stuffing horns .Iaddend.for receiving forcemeat and delivering the forcemeat into the tubular sausage casing material thereon,   means for positioning .Iadd.said stuffing horns with .Iaddend.the shirred tubular material .[.on the stuffing horn with the stuffing horn positioned.]. .Iadd.thereon .Iaddend.at .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.location .[.to receive.]. .Iadd.for receiving and delivering .Iaddend.forcemeat .[.and deliver it.]. into the tubular casing material, filling the tubular casing and pulling out the .[.shirring.]. folds,   .[.and clamping.]. means for closing off .[.the.]. filled sections of the tubular casing to form .[.the.]. separate sausage links,   the location of the .Iadd.first .Iaddend.stuffing horn during filling of said shirred tubular casing thereon being spaced from the location .Iadd.of the second stuffing horn .Iaddend.at which the shirring means forms a length of shirred tubular casing material, so that a further length of tubular casing material can be shirred by the shirring means while the first .Iadd.of .Iaddend.said shirred length of tubular casing material is being filled with forcemeat and formed into .[.separate.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.sausage links,   said shirring means including rollers mounted on a slide member movable toward and away from the .Iadd.second .Iaddend.stuffing horn at the .[.first.]. location .Iadd.where the shirring means forms a length of shirred tubular casing material.Iaddend., means for cutting the .[.tube.]. .Iadd.shirred tubular casing material .Iaddend.between the stuffing horn and the said rollers, and clamping means for clamping closed the just cut end of the shirred tubular length of casing material on the .Iadd.second .Iaddend.stuffing horn after .[.the.]. operation of the .[.cutter.]. .Iadd.cutting means.Iaddend.,   and .[.including.]. a floating tube supporting the tubular length of casing material as it passes through said rollers, said floating tube being aligned with and movable axially towards and away from the .Iadd.second .Iaddend.stuffing horn at the .[.first.]. location .Iadd.where the shirring means forms a length of shirred tubular casing material.Iaddend., whereby the floating tube is movable out of the path of the cutting means during operation of the cutting means.   
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 3, including means for mounting a source of flattened, unshirred tubular casing material and delivering .[.the same.]. .Iadd.it .Iaddend.to the shirring means, and a moistening means .Iadd.positioned .Iaddend.between the source .Iadd.of casing material .Iaddend.and the shirring means for moistening the tubular casing material. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 3, .Iadd.wherein .Iaddend.said .[.two.]. .Iadd.first and second .Iaddend.stuffing horns .[.being.]. .Iadd.are .Iaddend.mounted on a revolving plate which is rotatable to move the stuffing horns alternately to said .[.first.]. location .Iadd.where the shirring means forms a length of shirred tubular casing material .Iaddend.and said location to receive forcemeat to deliver it into the casing material. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 3, including means for delivering air into the length of tubular material being delivered to the shirring means over the floating tube. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 6, said means for delivering air including a tube movable outwardly through an opening in the revolving plate and retractable to a position behind the revolving plate to allow the revolving plate to revolve. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 3, including a clamping jaw device for clamping the shirred tubular casing material on the floating tube and moving the same away from the .Iadd.second .Iaddend.stuffing horn to provide a space between .[.the tubes.]. .Iadd.said floating tube and said second stuffing horn .Iaddend.for operation of said clamping means and said cutter. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for the production of link sausages, comprising .Iadd.in combination.Iaddend.: .[.a.]. shirring means for receiving an unshirred tubular length of sausage casing material and shirring .[.it, forming.]. .Iadd.said material to form .Iaddend.folds .[.taken.]. in the axial direction,   a stuffing horn .Iadd.in proximity to the shirring means .Iaddend.for receiving forcemeat and delivering the forcemeat into the tubular sausage casing material .[.thereon.].,   means for positioning the shirred tubular material on the stuffing horn with the stuffing horn positioned at .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.location .[.to receive.]. .Iadd.for receiving and delivering .Iaddend.forcemeat .[.and deliver it.]. into the tubular casing material, filling the tubular casing and pulling out the .[.shirring.]. folds,   .[.and clamping.]. means for closing off .[.the.]. filled sections of the tubular casing .[.to form the.]. .Iadd.for forming .Iaddend.separate sausage links,   the location of the stuffing horn during filling of said shirred tubular casing thereon being spaced from the location at which the shirring means forms a length of shirred tubular casing material, so that a further length of tubular casing material can be shirred by the shirring means while the first .Iadd.of .Iaddend.said shirred length of tubular casing material is being filled with forcemeat and formed into .[.separate.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.sausage links,   and .[.including a.]. transfer means .Iadd.for transporting shirred tubular material, said transfer means .Iaddend.having at least two transfer tubes, each movable at least from a first location at which it receives a shirred tubular casing material from the shirring means, a second location whereat it is positioned to deliver the shirred tubular casing material to the stuffing horn, and a third location separate from and spaced .[.away.]. from the first two locations, so that the length of shirred tubular material on the stuffing horn can be filled with forcemeat at the second location while the other transfer tube is at the first location to receive the next length of shirred tubular casing material.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 9, including means for mounting a source of flattened, unshirred tubular casing material and delivering .[.the same.]. .Iadd.it .Iaddend.to the shirring means, and a moistening means .Iadd.positioned .Iaddend.between the source .Iadd.of casing material .Iaddend.and the shirring means for moistening the tubular casing material. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 9, said transfer tubes being parallel to each other and mounted on a common revolving plate 180° apart relative to the rotational axis of the plate, said second location being 90° from the first location and the third location being 90° from the second location, whereby a transfer tube just receiving a length of shirred tubular casing material is movable 90° to deliver it onto the stuffing horn and then another 90° to a location out of the way of the stuffing horn. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim 9, 10, or 11, including a longitudinally movable pusher for pushing a length of shirred tubular casing material from the transfer tube that has just moved to the second location onto the stuffing horn aligned therewith. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to claim 12, said means for pulling out the shirred folds and clamping closed the separate sausage links being mounted on a slide member movable axially of the stuffing horn at said second location and transversely away from the stuffing horn. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for the production of link sausages, comprising: a shirring means for receiving an unshirred tubular length of sausage casing material and shirring .[.it, forming.]. .Iadd.said material to form .Iaddend.folds .[.taken.]. in the axial direction,   a stuffing horn for receiving forcemeat and delivering the forcemeat into the tubular sausage casing material thereon,   means for positioning the shirred tubular material on the stuffing horn with the stuffing horn positioned at .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.location to receive forcemeat and deliver it into the tubular casing material, filling the tubular casing and pulling out the .[.shirring.]. folds,   .[.and clamping.]. means for closing off the filled sections of the tubular casing to form .[.the.]. separate sausage links,   the location of the stuffing horn during filling of said shirred tubular casing thereon being spaced from the location at which the shirring means forms a length of shirred tubular casing material, so that a further length of tubular casing material can be shirred by the shirring means while the first .Iadd.of .Iaddend.said shirred length of tubular casing material is being filled with forcemeat and formed into .[.separate.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.sausage links,   and .[.including.]. a transfer means comprising a hollow shell for encasing and thus receiving therein the length of shirred tubular casing material, said hollow shell being movable at least between a first location for receiving a length of shirred tubular casing material therein from the shirring means and a second location whereat it is positioned to deliver .[.the.]. said length of shirred tubular casing material to the stuffing horn.   
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 14, including means for mounting a source of flattened, unshirred tubular casing material and delivering .[.the same.]. .Iadd.it .Iaddend.to the shirring means, and a moistening means .Iadd.positioned .Iaddend.between the source .Iadd.of casing material .Iaddend.and the shirring means for moistening the tubular casing material. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim 14, said transfer means being movable axially at the second location to deliver the length of shirred tubular casing material onto the stuffing horn. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the hollow shell comprises at least two half shells which are movable apart to release the length of shirred tubular casing material on the stuffing horn. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus according to claim 17, including, at the end of the hollow shell facing away from the stuffing horn, a means for delivering air into the tubular casing material located therein and a closure means for closing that end of the length of tubular material located in the hollow shell. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the means for delivering an air supply includes a twisting device for twisting the adjacent end of the tubular length of material, said twisting device having an opening passing axially therethrough and comprising said means for delivering air. .Iadd. 
     
     
       20.  An apparatus for the production of link sausages, comprising in combination: shirring means for receiving an unshirred tubular length of sausage casing material and shirring said material to form folds in the axial direction,   a stuffing horn in proximity to the shirring means for receiving forcemeat and delivering the forcemeat into shirred tubular material,   automatic mechanical transfer means for positioning shirred tubular material from the shirring means to the stuffing horn,   means for positioning said stuffing horn with the shirred tubular material thereon at a location for receiving and delivering forcemeat into the tubular casing material for filling the tubular casing and pulling out the folds,   means for closing off filled sections of the tubular casing for forming separate sausage links,   the location of the stuffing horn during filling of said shirred tubular casing thereon being spaced from the location at which the shirring means forms a length of shirred tubular casing material, so that a further length of tubular casing material can be shirred by the shirring means while the first mentioned length of shirred tubular casing material is being filled with forcemeat and formed into the sausage links, and   means for mounting a source of flattened, unshirred tubular casing material and delivering it to the shirring means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       21.  An apparatus according to claim 20, including means for delivering air into the length of tubular material as it approaches the shirring means..Iaddend. .Iadd.22. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said shirring means includes rollers mounted on a slide member, said slide member being movable toward and away from said stuffing horn, a floating tube for supporting the tubular length of casing material as it passes through said rollers and means for cutting the shirred tubular material between said stuffing horn and said rollers, whereby said floating tube is movable out of the path of the cutting means during operation of said cutting means..Iaddend. .Iadd.23. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the flattened tubular material on the mounting and delivering means has a moisture content sufficient for shirring and filling..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.24.  An apparatus for the production of link sausages, comprising in combination: shirring means for receiving an unshirred tubular length of sausage casing material and shirring said material to form folds in the axial direction,   a stuffing horn in proximity to the shirring means for receiving forcemeat and delivering the forcemeat into shirred tubular material,   automatic mechanical transfer means for positioning shirred tubular material from the shirring means to the stuffing horn,   means for positioning said stuffing horn with the shirred tubular material thereon at a location for receiving and delivering forcemeat into the tubular casing material for filling the tubular casing and pulling out the folds,   means for closing off the filled sections of the tubular casing for forming separate sausage links,   the location of the stuffing horn during filling of said shirred tubular casing thereon being spaced from the location at which the shirring means forms a length of shirred tubular casing material, so that a further length of tubular casing material can be shirred by the shirring means while the first mentioned length of shirred tubular casing material is being filled with forcemeat and formed into the sausage links, and   means for mounting a source of flattened, unshirred tubular casing material and delivering it to the shirring means, said flattened material having a   
     
     
        moisture content sufficient for shirring and filling. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. An apparatus according to claim 24, including means for delivering air into the length of tubular material as it approaches the shirring means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. An apparatus according to claim 25, including a floating tube supporting the tubular length of casing material as it passes through said rollers and casing cutting means therefore, said floating tube being aligned with and movable axially towards and away from the stuffing horn at the first location, whereby the floating tube is movable out of the path of the cutting means during operation of the cutting means. .Iaddend.