CA1260757A - Stuffing method and apparatus - Google Patents
Stuffing method and apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1260757A CA1260757A CA000575299A CA575299A CA1260757A CA 1260757 A CA1260757 A CA 1260757A CA 000575299 A CA000575299 A CA 000575299A CA 575299 A CA575299 A CA 575299A CA 1260757 A CA1260757 A CA 1260757A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- casing
- sizing
- stuffing horn
- engaging member
- sizing member
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method and apparatus for stuffing food product into shirred casing wherein an internal sizing member and an external engaging member cooperate to provide casing presizing and casing holdback. A small relative motion between said sizing member and said engaging member controllably reduces holdback to facilitate gathering and clipping the stuffed product.
A method and apparatus for stuffing food product into shirred casing wherein an internal sizing member and an external engaging member cooperate to provide casing presizing and casing holdback. A small relative motion between said sizing member and said engaging member controllably reduces holdback to facilitate gathering and clipping the stuffed product.
Description
O~S7 Descr iption STUFFING METHOD AND APPARATUS
Technical Field The present ~nvention relates to the g~uffing of flowable product into casing leng~hs, -such as cellulosic food casing r conventionally used to make sausagas and other ~imilar produats. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved ~tuffing method and apparatu~ or use especially in con~unction with controllably premoisturized, shirred casing.
Background Art Typically, stufflng apparatus is commonly used ~n the food lndustry, for example, to ~utomatically stuff food product, e.g., meat emulsion, into a casing length desh$rred ~rom a shirred casing supply mounted over a ~tuffing horn.
After the product is stuffed, the casing is ; ronstricted and gathered ~round the end of the stuffed product by closing a pair of gathering plate~. The stuffed product is then closed by applying a clip around the gathered end of the casing.
An importan~ recent development in the food packing indu~ry has been the use with food s~uffing apparatus o~ a controll~bly premoiæturized, shirred cas~ng. This particular casing has several significant advantages. First of all, there is no need to soak the casing a~ the processing plant Immediately prio~ to ~he stuffing operation. This of cour~e s~ves con.Riderable time, equipment and expense ln the product;on of s~uffed produc~s.
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Technical Field The present ~nvention relates to the g~uffing of flowable product into casing leng~hs, -such as cellulosic food casing r conventionally used to make sausagas and other ~imilar produats. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved ~tuffing method and apparatu~ or use especially in con~unction with controllably premoisturized, shirred casing.
Background Art Typically, stufflng apparatus is commonly used ~n the food lndustry, for example, to ~utomatically stuff food product, e.g., meat emulsion, into a casing length desh$rred ~rom a shirred casing supply mounted over a ~tuffing horn.
After the product is stuffed, the casing is ; ronstricted and gathered ~round the end of the stuffed product by closing a pair of gathering plate~. The stuffed product is then closed by applying a clip around the gathered end of the casing.
An importan~ recent development in the food packing indu~ry has been the use with food s~uffing apparatus o~ a controll~bly premoiæturized, shirred cas~ng. This particular casing has several significant advantages. First of all, there is no need to soak the casing a~ the processing plant Immediately prio~ to ~he stuffing operation. This of cour~e s~ves con.Riderable time, equipment and expense ln the product;on of s~uffed produc~s.
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- 2 -Furthermore, since the moisture content of the cas~ng i~ maintained at a controlled level, the casing tends to behave in a predictable fashion on.
the stuffing apparatus. Finally, s~nce soaking is no longer a requirement, the casing can be shirred to hlgher pack ratios 80 that a greater length of cas~ng can be ~hirred on~o a stick of predetermined length. It will be readily apparent that this feature si~nificantly reduces the apparatus downtime due to sti¢k load~ ng.
Casing whi~h i8 controllably premoisturized to a commercially acceptable level, e~g., from about 15.5~ to about 35~, and preferably to about 20~, of ~otal casing weight, iB much les~ pliable than a fully soaked casing. Unfortunately, this ha~ giYen rise to certain problems ~n ~dapting existing stuffing equipment to handle the premoisturized casing. For instance~ it ha~ been found that stuffing pressures encountered with premois~urized casing may be significantly higher than those encountered when a fully ~oaked casing is employed to stuff the casing to the same diameter.
U.S. Patent No. 4,007,761 to 8eckman describes a 801ution to this problem wherein a sizing disc or ring mounted inside the casing, strekches the casing c$rcumferentially as the casing deshirrs from the casing supply. The sizing disc or ring ~tretches the casing toward or even beyond its recommended s~uffed circumference, which thereby causes the casing to take a temporary setO With the casing stretched to about ~ts recommended stuf~ed circumference, ~he emul~ion entering the casing need only fill ~he casing wi~hout much, if any, additional ~tr`etching, resul~ing in 8 substantial reduct$on in stuffing pressure.
D-13,924 ~2~t7~7 Un~ortunately, the placement of a sizing disc or ring inside.the casing to stretch the casing create~ an additional problem in that the sizing disc or r~ng establishes a holdback force which, if not relieved, can prevent completion of the ga~hering and clipplng opera~ion without damage to-the casing. This problem has been solved in the past by ~he provision of a tension sleeve. ~he tension sleeve is mounted o~er ~he stuffing horn and carries the sizing disc or ring at ~ts outer endO
The tension sleeve is connect~d at its other 2nd to a reciprocating mechanism which cycles the tension sleeve first aft~ then ~ore, to create a con~rolled length of slack casing which, in e~fect, sub~tantially reduces ~he holdback force developed in the casing supply during gathering. The slack casing so provided is thus availabIe to be drawn by the gathering plates around the end of th~ stuffed product.
Although the pro~lslon of a tension sleeve carrying a sizing disc or ring and reciprocating fore and af~ on ~he stuffing horn has solved the problem of a casing holdback, the solution nevartheless has been a compromise since additional space ~ust be taken from the shirred casing length on the stuffing horn to allow for the reciprocating motion o~ the tension sleeve. In other words, due ~o i~æ reciprocating movemen~, the tension sleeve is short~ned and this necessarily results in the loss of available shirred casing, approaching about 25 or ~ least enough in most cases to considerably dilu~e the pack rat~o ~dvantage offered by ~he highly compressed con~rollably premoisturized casing.
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U.S. Patent No. 3,748,690 to Niedecker discloses ~ ~tuff~ng apparDtus for stuffing ~aus~ge cas~ngs and the like whereln the ~tufflng horn ~6 ' prov~ded w~th ~ snubbing ring adjacent to lt~
discharga end. Th~ snubbing rlng 18 ~rranged to reduce the cas~ng holdback imm~diately after ~omple~on of the fill~ng operation ~n order to accommodate flowable product that ~s displ~ced during the constriction and gath~ring operation.
U:S. Patent ~o. 4,43~,545 ~ssigned ~o the common Dss~gnee hesecf, discloses ~n improved s~uffing method and apparatus which 15 pr~marily ~d~pted to the utllization of controllably pr~moistur$zed cas~ng. In thi~ deve$opment, a tens~on sleeve carrying a ~izing disc or ring ~s provided along with D snubbing r~ng mounted adjacent to the discharge end of the ~tuffing horn. The ~nubb~ng r~ng ~esves to ~nfold the ~tretched casing ~s it passes from ~round the 6~zing dis~ or ring and also prsvide~ an emulsion ~eal as the infolded casing passes between the snubbing ring ~nd stuffing horn. Agaln, the tenslon sleev~ is adapted to reciprocate ln order to prov$de ~lack in the casing ~hlle th~ snubbing ring is mainta$ned ~n fixed or ~tation~ry posit~o~O
Disclosure of the Invent~on The present invention contemplates ~n ~mproved method of stuffing ~ ~lowable produc~
e.g., me~t emulsion, into tubular casing lengths whlch haYe been ~h$rred ~nd mounted onto ~n elongated s~uf$ng horn. The me~hod o the p~esent lnven~ion ~s carr~ed ou~ by mountlng within the lnterior of the ~ubular cas~ng a ~lxlng memb~r having an outer D-13,g24 . .
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i7 circumference whAch is larger than the casing in its initial un~tuffed condition and then drawing the tubular casing over the ~zing member in order to stretch ~he casing to about its recommended stuffed ~ircumference. The ou~er circumference of the sizing member is provided with a casing contact surfa~e area wh$ch is relatively small and which consequently reduces the force ~i.e. holdback force) required to pull the cas~ng over the sizing member.
An engaging member or snubbing ring i8 placed around the exterior of the tubular casing in order to infold the stretched, desh~rred casing a~ter it has been drawn over the sizing memberO The engaging member holds the casing against the surface of the stuf~ing horn ~o provide ~n ~mulsion ~eal. Further, the engaging member has an arcuate projection or extended lip which coac~s with the sizing member to force the casLng to follow a convoluted path. This f in turn, ~reates a high frictional holdback force on the casing. This holdback fsrce~ together with the holdback force crea~ed by the stretching action of the sizing member, combine to provide a to~al holdback force sufficient to control or reyulate the internal stuf~ing pressure, thereby insuring that the casin~ will stuff out to the desired s~uffed circumference.
During the stuffing operation, the engaging member ~s positioned in close proximity to the sizing member which is mounted inside the casing.
However, sa$d engaging member is caused to move longitudinally ~long the length of the stuffing horn just pr$or to or duriny the stuffed product gathering ~nd ~lipping step, from its ~nitlal position adjacent to the sizing member to a point D-13,924 , .
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~6~)~5~7 proximate to the discharge end of the stuffing horn. This substantially reduces the casing holdback force and thereby allows the casing to be drawn on demand from the sh~rred casing supply during the stuffed product gathering and clipping ~t~p.
~ n a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the internal sizing member is held ~ixed or s~ationary throughout the ent~re ~tuffing, ga~hering and cllpping operation. This is made posslble by the fac~ tha~ the sizins member generally does not apply the major portion of the holdback force against the casing during the stretching operation. Accordingly, since ~he sizing member is fixed or stationary, essentially all of the space available to store the shirr~d casing ~n the stufflng horn can be readily utilized without sacrificing any space to accommodate reciprocating movement of a tension sleeve or similar device foe supporting the ~izing member.
In its method aspe~ts, the present inYention comprehends a method of stuffing a flowable product into continuous lengths of tubular casing which have been shirred and mounted onto an ~longated stuffing horn comprising:
mountlng a shirred casing supply and a sizing member onto a stuffing horn, said sizing member being mounted within an unshirred portion of the shirred casing supply and said sizing mem~er havi~g a periphery which is larger than the circum.~erence of he casiny ln its initial unstufed condition~ and said casing supply comprising controll~bly premoisturized casing;
~, D-13,924 ' '75'7 placing around the exterior of the tubular casing an engaging member adapted to fold the stre~ched unshlrred casing inwardly as it passes around and over the sizing member, the engaging member having a casing ~ontact surface area of which an opt~mum port~on contacts the casing when the engaging member is pos$tioned adjacent to the c~zing member;
positioning the engaging member adjacent to the sizing member;
drawing the tubular casing over the sizing member and stretching the casing to ~bout the desired s~uffed circumerence;
folding ~he stretched un~hirred easing ~nwardly through the engaging member while maintaining the casing in contact with an optimum portion of the casing contact urfa~e area, thPreby producing a high holdba~k force on the casing;
filling the tubular casing with the flowable product until a predetermined length of casing has been stuffed tv about th~ desired stufed circumference;
moving the engagin~ member longitudinally along the stuffing horn from its position adjacent to the sizing member to a point proximate to the dlscharge end of the stuffing horn to effectively decrease the casing contact surface area actually in contact with the ca.cing r thereby substantially reducing the holdba~k force on the casing; and ~hen gathering the casing around the end of the stuffed product,.and thereby pulling a necessary additional amount of casing over ~he sizing member to form the rear end of ~he jus~ stuffed product length and the~ front end of the succeeding n~xt prod w t length to be stuffed.
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~L2~ 7~7 The stuffing method according to the pre~ent lnvention may be carried o~t by an apparatus comprising, in combination:
an elongated stuffing horn;
~ shirred casing supply mounted onto the stuffing horn, said casing supply comprising controllably premoi~tur~zed casing;
a sizing member disposed within an unshirred portion of the ~hirred casing suppl~y and having an outer circumference which contact~ the inner surface of the casing for stretching the casing to a predetermined dimension;
an engaging member surrounding ~he stuffing horn and contacting ~he outer surface of ~he stretched unshirred casing for folding the casing inwardly as it is drawn ~round and over the sizing member, the engaging member having a casing contact surface area, an opt~mum portion of which contacts the casing when the engaging member is positioned ad~acent to the sizing member, thereby producing a hiyh holdback force on the casing during ~tuffing;
means for controllably moving the engaging member along the stuffing horn from a position adjacent to the sizing member to a position adjacent to the discharge end of the stuffing horn in order to decrease the casing contact surface area actually in contact wlth the casing, thereby substantially reducing ~he holdback force on the casing; and means for holding the sizing member ~tationary on the stuffing horn.
In a preferred embodiment o~ apparatus according to the present invention, the interior sizing member is moun~ed ~o an end of a t~bular core member which carries or supports the shirred casing D~13,924 .
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supply. The tubular core member is mounted along with the casing supply over the stuffing horn and is held in stationary position thereon by suitable attachment means. Such means may include, for example, a bayonet mount arrangement for detachably fixing the inboard end of the tubular core member to a part of the apparatus.
The shirred casing supply used with the preferred embodiment may comprise a "cored high density"
casing stick as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,688,298 lC issued August 25, 1987. A cored high density casing article comprises a support tube or tubular core member with a shirred casing length mounted thereon and highly compacted to a high pack ratio (at least about 100) and a high packing efficiency (at least about 0.50). Such a configuration provides a casing article having improved structural stability and strength, and it supplies additional stuffing length as compared to conventional shirred sticks.
Article aspects of the present invention are as follows:
A casing article comprising in combination, an elongated tubular core member having a sizing member affixed thereto at one end, and a continuous length of a controllably premoisturized tubular casing shirred and compacted over substantially the entire length of said tubular core member, said sizing member being disposed within an unshirred portion of said casing and having an outer periphery of substantially fixed circumference which is larger than the interior circumference of said casing, such that said casing is stretched outwardly when the casing is drawn around and over said periphery, said periphery having a casing contact ~urface area which produces a minimal holdback force on the casing so that the casing can be drawn easily around and over the periphery of the sizing member when no other holdback forces are applied thereto.
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A casing article comprising in combination, an elongated tubular core member having a sizing member affixed thereto at one end, and a continuous length of a controllably premoisturized tubular casing shirred and X
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~L2 ~ r;~7 compacted over substantially the entire length o~ said tubular core member, said sizing member being disposed within an unshirred portion of said casing and having an outer periphery of substantially fixed circumference which is larger than the interior circumference of said casing, said sizing member comprising a substantially unresilient wall which flares outwardly from said one end and terminates in a relatively narrow rim that defines said outer periphery of substantially ~ixed circumference and said rim maintaining substantially line contact with the interior circumference of qaid casing, such that said casing is stretched outwardly when the casing is drawn around and over said rim, said substantially line contact providing a casing contact surface area which produces a minimal holdback force on said casing so that said casing can be drawn easily around and over said rim when no other holdback forces are applied to said casing.
The internal sizing member is preferably conical in shape as opposed to a cylindrical disc and is, preferably, made integral with the outer end of the tubular core member. This sizing member can be conveniently made by molding the sizing member in one piece with the tubular core member. Since the sizing membsr must stretch the casing, it must be made of a substantially unresilient material such as metal or, preferably, a rigid plastic such as high density polyethylene.
The engaging member preferably includes an annular projection which surrounds the inner circumference thereof and can coact with the internal sizing member to create a convoluted casing path.
Preferably, the annular projection on the engaging member is adapted to enter the open annular space defined between the conical sizing member and the stuffing horn. This arrangement is utilized to effectively increase the convolution of the casing passage and thereby produces a siynificant portion of the holdback force to control or reyulate the internal stuffing pressure.
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-lua-iO~S7 DescriPtion of the Drawinq The present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with particular reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Figure 1 is an elevational sectional view showing apparatus according to the present invention during the stuffing operation;
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: ; i ~ ~fiO7~7 Figure 2 is a similar view showing the same apparatus during the constriction and gathering operation;
Figure 3 is an exploded view showing an assembly for mounting and adjusting the longitud~nal position of the casing ~rticle on the stuf~ing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Description o the Preferred Embodiments Referring now more particularly to the dr~wings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 an appara~us according to the present invention or stuffing a flowable product sush as a meat emulsion 10 into continuous lengths of tubular cellulosic casing 1~. Preferably, the casing 12 is a controllably premoisturlzed casing which is shirred and compacted tightly onto an elongated plastic tube or core 14 to form a eomplete casing article depicted generally by the reference numeral 16. ~he casing article 16 ~s loaded onto the stuffing apparatus by placing the plastic tube or core 1~
over the elongated stuffi~g horn 18. Only tho~e parts of the ~tuffing apparatus are shown that are considered essential to an understanding of the present invention.
The ca~ing ar icle 16 is detachably mounted onto the apparatus by means of a pair of mounting plates 20, 22~ These mounting pla~es each have coinciding openings through which passes the aft end of the stuff~ng horn 18. The outermost plate 22 is fixed to a part of the apparatus, not chown, while the other innermost plate 20 is removably secured theretc as by set screws, ~lso not shown. The .
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~6()7~57 innermo~t plat~ 20 carries around the periphery of its opening an interrupted flange element 24 which forms part of a conventional bayonet mount arrangement. The inboard end of the plastic tube or core 14 is formed with similar spaced interrupted flange elements as at 26 which engage the flange element 24 and detachably lock the tube in place upon ro~ation.
A conically shaped siz~ng member 28 is d;sposed within the interior of the tubular casing 12~ The sizing member 28 iS affixed to the fore end of the elongated plastic tube or core 14 and preferably, thou~h not necessaril~, is made an integral part thereof. In the embodiment of the stuffing apparatus ~hown, the si2ing member 28 is molded in one piece with the plastic ~ube or core 14. Alternatively, the sizing member 28 can be made as a separate piece and then suitably secured onto the end of the plastic tube or core 14. The sizing member 28 can also be detachably secured by suitable means ~o ~he stuffing horn ~f desired.
The conically shaped sizing member 28 in its preferred form includes an outwardly flared wall 30 terminating at its outer edge in a narrow, rounded peripheral rim,32. The wall 30 is disposed at an ang}e ~ with respect to the longitudinal axis of the plastic tube or core 14 defining an open annular ~pace 34 between the wall 30 and the outer surface of the ~tuffing horn 1~.
The elongated plastic tube or core 14 i~
preferably made as long as possible in order to incorporate the maximum leng~h of shirred tubular ~asing within the casing ~r~icle 16. ~owever, the plastic tube o`r core 14 is shorter than the overall D-13,924 ,, :
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~0~757 length of the stuffing horn 18 leaving a part of the latter exposed in an area adjacent to the discharge end 3S.
A snubbing ring or engaging member 38 is disposed concen rically around the exposed area on ~he stuff~ng horn 18. The engaging member 38 contacts the exterior ~urface of the stretched, unshirred casing 12 and infolds the casing as it i~
drawn ~rom around the ou~er r~m 32 of ~he sizing member 28.
The engaging member 38 is ~ormed around its inner periphery with an annular, arcuate ~haped projection 40. The annular projection 40 contacts the exterior surface of the Etretched, unshirred casin~ 12 and, in concert with the ~izing member 28, produces a holdback ~orce on the casingO Th~ ~nner periphery of the engaying member 38 also holds the casing 12 snugly around the discharge end 3S of the stuffing horn 1~. This preYents back flow of the meat emulsion extruded from the stuffing horn 18, that i8, ~he engaging ~ember prevents the meat emul~lon from entering the casing 12 at a point inboard of the engaging member 3B.
The outer periphery of the engaging member 38 is secured inside an annular groove 42 formed on the inner Eurface of a circular carriage 44. This carriage 44 ~s connected to a suitable driv~
m~chan~sm, n~t ~hown, which is adapted to move the carriage 44 and engaging member 38 longitudinally along the exposed area on the stuffing horn 18 in both the fore and aft direction as depicted by the arrow~. The mec~anism for driving the carriage 44 may be, for example, a pair of pneuma~ic cylinders operating in ~`andem or any 3imilar device.
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As the meat emulsion 10 extrudes from the discharge end 36 of the stuffing horn 18 under pressure from an emulsion pumpO not hown, the meat emulsion fills the tubular casing 12 outwardly to the desired stuffing circumference. Tha casing 12 is continuously dechirred from the casing ar~icle ~6 and is drawn over the peripheral rim 32 of the sizing member 28. The rim 32 ~tretches the casing outwardly to about its recommended ætuff diameter and there~y reduces the internal pressure required to complete ~he stuffing operation. The stretched casing 12 is then infolded and continuously drawn around the arcuate annular projection or extended lip 40 of engaging member 38. The ring 38 contacts the casing and holds ~t snugly against the surface of the stuffing horn 18.
During the stuffing operation, the engaging member 38 is positloned adjacent to the conically shaped sizing member 28 as illustrated in the view of Figure 1. In this positon of the engaging member 38, the extended lip 40 is placed inside the annular space 34 between the ~lared wall 30 and the stuffing horn 18. It will be s~en by ~his arrangement that the infolded ~ection of the casing 12 actually reverseq direction fol~owing a convoluted path first inwardly and rearwardly as it passes ~hrough the ~pace 34 and then in the forward direction again as the cas~ny i~ drawn around the extended lip 40~
This convoluted path that the casing 10 is forced to follow creates the additional holdback force which is necessary ~o enable the casing to be fully stuffed to the desired stuffed diameter.
As soon as She casing 12 is filled to a predetermined length with mea~ emulsion 10, emulsion D-13,924 ~2~07~7 flow is shut off and the engaging member 38 is moved along the stuffing horn lB by the carriage 44 and lts associated drive mechanism to a position close to the horn discharge end 36 as shown in the view of ~igure 2. This substantially reduces tha total.
holdback force of ~he engaging member on the casing, while leaving undisturbed that portion of the total holdback for~e con ributed by the stretching ~ction of the sizing member.
A pair of ~onstriction plates 46, 48, are located just ahead of the discharge end 36 of the ~uf f ing horn 18 . These plates simultaneously close together to constrict the filled casing 12 as shown in the view of Figure 2. The extra casing required to form the ~ear or trail~ng end of the just-stuffed produ~t length and the f ront end of the succeeding "nex~-to-be-stuffed" product length is pulled from the shirred casing supply, and over the sizing member, by the action of the constriction plates.
This ability to draw casing from the shirred casing supply, as needed, is brought about by controllably eliminating a large portion of the total holdback force required for stuffing, by moving the engaging member and ~hereby reducing its holdback contribution through minimizing the casing contact ~rea cn the arcuate annular projection 40, as shown in Figure 2.
A pair of clips (not shown) seal the rear end of th~ just-stuffed product length and the fron~
end of ~he next product length, and a severing means lnot shown~ ~aparates the casing between the clips.
The engasing member 38 is withdrawn from horn discharge end 36 and positioned again adjacent to the conically shaped ~izing member 2~. Emulsion D-13,924 ;
~L~6~)~57 flow is reactivated, and stuffing of the next product length commences.
While in ~ha stuffing position shown in Figure 1, the arcuate annular project~on 40 of the engaging member 38 co~ct6 w~th the sizing member 28 to force the tubular casing 12 to follow a convoluted path as it deshirrs from the casing supply. This creates a high frictional holdback force on the casing which, when coupled with the holdback force created by the stretching action of si~in~ member 28, provides a total holdback force sufficient to control or regulate the internal stuffing pressure, thereby insuring that the casing will stuff out to the desired stuffed diameter or stuffed circumference.
The rim 32 formed by the outer periphery of the sizing member 28 has a relatively small surface area which contacts the interior of the casing 12.
While stretching the casing 12 to about its recommended stuf~ing circumference, said sizing member, therefore, produces a minimal holdback force on the ~asing. When in the constriction and ~athering position shown in Figure 2, the major portion of the total holdback force which is acting on the casing becomes tpat portion which ~s due to this stretching contact of the sizing member. This allows the constricting and gathering action ~o ~asily draw casing from the shirred casing supply o~er the rim 32 as required. There is, therefore, no necessity to move or reciprocate the casing supp}y 16 to create slack during the constriction, gathering ~nd cl~pping operation It is only necessary to move the engaging member 38 approximately ~/8-inch away from the sizing member D-13,924 -~60~
~ 17 -28 to eliminate a ~ubstantial portion of the total holdback force on the casing.
An important advantage of the above described arrangement is that it is no longer necessary to provlde space for reciprocating the plasti~ tube or core 140 Conse~uently, the core can be longer and, thereby, a maximum len~th of shirred cas~ng can now be applied to the plas~ic tube or core 14 during assembly of ~he casing article 14.
This advantage is of signif$cant value in the case where a controllably premolstur$zed, shirred casing is employedO
Although the plastic tube or core 14 is held stationary on the stuffing horn 18 throughout operat$on of the apparatus, it may be convenient if not necessary~ to meet special user requirements, to adjust the position of the tube or core 14 and in turn the location of the conically shaped sizing member 2B with respect to She engaging member 38.
This is readily accomplished in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a mounting plate ad~ustment mechanism 50. This mechanism may con~ist, for example, of a rotatable knob 52 having a tubular extension 54 mounted on a stationary shaft 56. The tubular extension 54 is threadably engaged inside a tubular sleeva 58 which in turn is fixed}y secured in an opening 60 ~ormed within the mounting plate 22. I~ will be seen then that by simply rotat~ng the knob 52 either clockwise or counterclockwise~ the plate 22 and, in turn, the tube or core 14 can be moved, in small increments, longi~udinally in either direc~ion along the length of the 3tu~fing horn 18.
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Thi~ movement of the tube or core 14 causes the conically ~haped sizing member 28 to relocate either closer to or farther from the engaging member 38 and its projection 40, thereby controlling the amount of total holdback to be developed in the ~asing supply. ~y properly adjusting the distance between the sizing member 28 and the engaging member 38, provision is thereby made to assure that an optimum portion of the casing contact surface area on the arcuate annular projection 40 will be in contact with the infolded casing during stuffing in order to provide that the total holdback force will produce the desired stuffed ~asing circumference or diameter. The mechanism whereby the level of holdback contributed by the engaging member 38 is Gontrolled, involves the amount of casing 12 which is wrapped around arcuate projection 40 as the casing moves over the sizing member 28 and ~ast the engaging member. The closer ~he engaging member 38 is set to the sizing member 28, the greater the amount o~ ~asing wrap and, therefore, the higher the holdback force.
Similarly, when the distance is greater, the casing wrap is less, and with a lesser casing wrap a lesser holdback ~orce is prod~ced.
In the practice of the present invention, the angle ~ defined between the ~lared wall 30 and the longitudinal axis of ~he plas~ic tube or core 14 may be any angle in a range of between about 30 and 75 d~grees, for example~ Preferably, the angle~3 is about 45~ This preferred angle provides a ~pace 34 for creating casing holdback.
An a~ternate and pre~erred assembly for detachably mou'nt~ng the casing ~rticle on the D-13,924 . . :
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i ~IL2~07S7 ~tufing apparatus and adjusting the longitudinal position of tube or core 14 is shown in Figure 3O
An internally threaded outer ring 62, provided with openings 64 about its periphery, is mounted concentric to the stuffing horn 18 and bolted to the horn atta~hment nut 66 of the stuffing apparatus.
An ex~ernally Shreaded adju~ting r~ng 60 i6 concentrically mounted around the stuffing horn and threadably engag~d within outer ring 62. A number o~ adjusting holes 70 are radially bored around ~he periphery of the ~djusting ring 80 that they are accessible through the openings 64 of outer ring 62 for the insertion of a rod ~not shown) into a hole 70 for ~djusting the position of ring 60 within ring ~2 by rotating ring 60. An adapter ring 72 is, in turn, mounted concentric to the stuffing horn and bolted to the face 74 of adjusting ring 60. The adapter ring carries around the periphery of its opening 76 an interrupted flange element 78 which ~orms p~rt of a ~onventional bayonet mount arrangement. Only the adapter ring 72 need be changed to accommodate di~ferent tubular ~-ore inboard sizes. As earlier described, the inboard end of the plastic tube or core 14 of the casing article is formed with a slmilar spaced interrupted flange element which engages the flange element 78 and detachably locks the tube in place upon rotationO It will be seen that by simply rotating the externally ~hreaded adjusting ring 60, within the internally threaded outer ring 62, the adapter ring 72 ~nd, in .urn, the tube or core 14 of ~he casing article can be moved longi~udinally in either direction along the stuffing horn 18, establishing D-13,924 ~L~607S~
any desired relationship between the sizing member 28 and the engaging member 38.
While a preferred embodiment has been described herein, it ~hould be appreciated that other arrangements of a movable external engaging member and ~ ~tationary internal sizing member wou~d fall within the ~cope of the claimed invention. For example, the internal ~izing member could have a convoluted outer periphery which would impart little , or no prestretching or holdback to the casing until an engaging member, prov~ded with a plurality of fingers or protuberances, pressed and stretched the casing into the recessed por~ions of the convoluted izing member~
Similarly, the internal sizing member can have a shape (e.g. ellipsoidal, hemispherical, etc.) other than a conical shape, as long as an annular space is provided between said ~iæing member and the stuffing horn to allow coaction with ~he engaging member, and provided that the contact area of the sizing member with the casi.ng is roughly equivalent to that provided by the rim of a conical ~izing member~
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the stuffing apparatus. Finally, s~nce soaking is no longer a requirement, the casing can be shirred to hlgher pack ratios 80 that a greater length of cas~ng can be ~hirred on~o a stick of predetermined length. It will be readily apparent that this feature si~nificantly reduces the apparatus downtime due to sti¢k load~ ng.
Casing whi~h i8 controllably premoisturized to a commercially acceptable level, e~g., from about 15.5~ to about 35~, and preferably to about 20~, of ~otal casing weight, iB much les~ pliable than a fully soaked casing. Unfortunately, this ha~ giYen rise to certain problems ~n ~dapting existing stuffing equipment to handle the premoisturized casing. For instance~ it ha~ been found that stuffing pressures encountered with premois~urized casing may be significantly higher than those encountered when a fully ~oaked casing is employed to stuff the casing to the same diameter.
U.S. Patent No. 4,007,761 to 8eckman describes a 801ution to this problem wherein a sizing disc or ring mounted inside the casing, strekches the casing c$rcumferentially as the casing deshirrs from the casing supply. The sizing disc or ring ~tretches the casing toward or even beyond its recommended s~uffed circumference, which thereby causes the casing to take a temporary setO With the casing stretched to about ~ts recommended stuf~ed circumference, ~he emul~ion entering the casing need only fill ~he casing wi~hout much, if any, additional ~tr`etching, resul~ing in 8 substantial reduct$on in stuffing pressure.
D-13,924 ~2~t7~7 Un~ortunately, the placement of a sizing disc or ring inside.the casing to stretch the casing create~ an additional problem in that the sizing disc or r~ng establishes a holdback force which, if not relieved, can prevent completion of the ga~hering and clipplng opera~ion without damage to-the casing. This problem has been solved in the past by ~he provision of a tension sleeve. ~he tension sleeve is mounted o~er ~he stuffing horn and carries the sizing disc or ring at ~ts outer endO
The tension sleeve is connect~d at its other 2nd to a reciprocating mechanism which cycles the tension sleeve first aft~ then ~ore, to create a con~rolled length of slack casing which, in e~fect, sub~tantially reduces ~he holdback force developed in the casing supply during gathering. The slack casing so provided is thus availabIe to be drawn by the gathering plates around the end of th~ stuffed product.
Although the pro~lslon of a tension sleeve carrying a sizing disc or ring and reciprocating fore and af~ on ~he stuffing horn has solved the problem of a casing holdback, the solution nevartheless has been a compromise since additional space ~ust be taken from the shirred casing length on the stuffing horn to allow for the reciprocating motion o~ the tension sleeve. In other words, due ~o i~æ reciprocating movemen~, the tension sleeve is short~ned and this necessarily results in the loss of available shirred casing, approaching about 25 or ~ least enough in most cases to considerably dilu~e the pack rat~o ~dvantage offered by ~he highly compressed con~rollably premoisturized casing.
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U.S. Patent No. 3,748,690 to Niedecker discloses ~ ~tuff~ng apparDtus for stuffing ~aus~ge cas~ngs and the like whereln the ~tufflng horn ~6 ' prov~ded w~th ~ snubbing ring adjacent to lt~
discharga end. Th~ snubbing rlng 18 ~rranged to reduce the cas~ng holdback imm~diately after ~omple~on of the fill~ng operation ~n order to accommodate flowable product that ~s displ~ced during the constriction and gath~ring operation.
U:S. Patent ~o. 4,43~,545 ~ssigned ~o the common Dss~gnee hesecf, discloses ~n improved s~uffing method and apparatus which 15 pr~marily ~d~pted to the utllization of controllably pr~moistur$zed cas~ng. In thi~ deve$opment, a tens~on sleeve carrying a ~izing disc or ring ~s provided along with D snubbing r~ng mounted adjacent to the discharge end of the ~tuffing horn. The ~nubb~ng r~ng ~esves to ~nfold the ~tretched casing ~s it passes from ~round the 6~zing dis~ or ring and also prsvide~ an emulsion ~eal as the infolded casing passes between the snubbing ring ~nd stuffing horn. Agaln, the tenslon sleev~ is adapted to reciprocate ln order to prov$de ~lack in the casing ~hlle th~ snubbing ring is mainta$ned ~n fixed or ~tation~ry posit~o~O
Disclosure of the Invent~on The present invention contemplates ~n ~mproved method of stuffing ~ ~lowable produc~
e.g., me~t emulsion, into tubular casing lengths whlch haYe been ~h$rred ~nd mounted onto ~n elongated s~uf$ng horn. The me~hod o the p~esent lnven~ion ~s carr~ed ou~ by mountlng within the lnterior of the ~ubular cas~ng a ~lxlng memb~r having an outer D-13,g24 . .
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i7 circumference whAch is larger than the casing in its initial un~tuffed condition and then drawing the tubular casing over the ~zing member in order to stretch ~he casing to about its recommended stuffed ~ircumference. The ou~er circumference of the sizing member is provided with a casing contact surfa~e area wh$ch is relatively small and which consequently reduces the force ~i.e. holdback force) required to pull the cas~ng over the sizing member.
An engaging member or snubbing ring i8 placed around the exterior of the tubular casing in order to infold the stretched, desh~rred casing a~ter it has been drawn over the sizing memberO The engaging member holds the casing against the surface of the stuf~ing horn ~o provide ~n ~mulsion ~eal. Further, the engaging member has an arcuate projection or extended lip which coac~s with the sizing member to force the casLng to follow a convoluted path. This f in turn, ~reates a high frictional holdback force on the casing. This holdback fsrce~ together with the holdback force crea~ed by the stretching action of the sizing member, combine to provide a to~al holdback force sufficient to control or reyulate the internal stuf~ing pressure, thereby insuring that the casin~ will stuff out to the desired s~uffed circumference.
During the stuffing operation, the engaging member ~s positioned in close proximity to the sizing member which is mounted inside the casing.
However, sa$d engaging member is caused to move longitudinally ~long the length of the stuffing horn just pr$or to or duriny the stuffed product gathering ~nd ~lipping step, from its ~nitlal position adjacent to the sizing member to a point D-13,924 , .
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~6~)~5~7 proximate to the discharge end of the stuffing horn. This substantially reduces the casing holdback force and thereby allows the casing to be drawn on demand from the sh~rred casing supply during the stuffed product gathering and clipping ~t~p.
~ n a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the internal sizing member is held ~ixed or s~ationary throughout the ent~re ~tuffing, ga~hering and cllpping operation. This is made posslble by the fac~ tha~ the sizins member generally does not apply the major portion of the holdback force against the casing during the stretching operation. Accordingly, since ~he sizing member is fixed or stationary, essentially all of the space available to store the shirr~d casing ~n the stufflng horn can be readily utilized without sacrificing any space to accommodate reciprocating movement of a tension sleeve or similar device foe supporting the ~izing member.
In its method aspe~ts, the present inYention comprehends a method of stuffing a flowable product into continuous lengths of tubular casing which have been shirred and mounted onto an ~longated stuffing horn comprising:
mountlng a shirred casing supply and a sizing member onto a stuffing horn, said sizing member being mounted within an unshirred portion of the shirred casing supply and said sizing mem~er havi~g a periphery which is larger than the circum.~erence of he casiny ln its initial unstufed condition~ and said casing supply comprising controll~bly premoisturized casing;
~, D-13,924 ' '75'7 placing around the exterior of the tubular casing an engaging member adapted to fold the stre~ched unshlrred casing inwardly as it passes around and over the sizing member, the engaging member having a casing ~ontact surface area of which an opt~mum port~on contacts the casing when the engaging member is pos$tioned adjacent to the c~zing member;
positioning the engaging member adjacent to the sizing member;
drawing the tubular casing over the sizing member and stretching the casing to ~bout the desired s~uffed circumerence;
folding ~he stretched un~hirred easing ~nwardly through the engaging member while maintaining the casing in contact with an optimum portion of the casing contact urfa~e area, thPreby producing a high holdba~k force on the casing;
filling the tubular casing with the flowable product until a predetermined length of casing has been stuffed tv about th~ desired stufed circumference;
moving the engagin~ member longitudinally along the stuffing horn from its position adjacent to the sizing member to a point proximate to the dlscharge end of the stuffing horn to effectively decrease the casing contact surface area actually in contact with the ca.cing r thereby substantially reducing the holdba~k force on the casing; and ~hen gathering the casing around the end of the stuffed product,.and thereby pulling a necessary additional amount of casing over ~he sizing member to form the rear end of ~he jus~ stuffed product length and the~ front end of the succeeding n~xt prod w t length to be stuffed.
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~L2~ 7~7 The stuffing method according to the pre~ent lnvention may be carried o~t by an apparatus comprising, in combination:
an elongated stuffing horn;
~ shirred casing supply mounted onto the stuffing horn, said casing supply comprising controllably premoi~tur~zed casing;
a sizing member disposed within an unshirred portion of the ~hirred casing suppl~y and having an outer circumference which contact~ the inner surface of the casing for stretching the casing to a predetermined dimension;
an engaging member surrounding ~he stuffing horn and contacting ~he outer surface of ~he stretched unshirred casing for folding the casing inwardly as it is drawn ~round and over the sizing member, the engaging member having a casing contact surface area, an opt~mum portion of which contacts the casing when the engaging member is positioned ad~acent to the sizing member, thereby producing a hiyh holdback force on the casing during ~tuffing;
means for controllably moving the engaging member along the stuffing horn from a position adjacent to the sizing member to a position adjacent to the discharge end of the stuffing horn in order to decrease the casing contact surface area actually in contact wlth the casing, thereby substantially reducing ~he holdback force on the casing; and means for holding the sizing member ~tationary on the stuffing horn.
In a preferred embodiment o~ apparatus according to the present invention, the interior sizing member is moun~ed ~o an end of a t~bular core member which carries or supports the shirred casing D~13,924 .
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supply. The tubular core member is mounted along with the casing supply over the stuffing horn and is held in stationary position thereon by suitable attachment means. Such means may include, for example, a bayonet mount arrangement for detachably fixing the inboard end of the tubular core member to a part of the apparatus.
The shirred casing supply used with the preferred embodiment may comprise a "cored high density"
casing stick as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,688,298 lC issued August 25, 1987. A cored high density casing article comprises a support tube or tubular core member with a shirred casing length mounted thereon and highly compacted to a high pack ratio (at least about 100) and a high packing efficiency (at least about 0.50). Such a configuration provides a casing article having improved structural stability and strength, and it supplies additional stuffing length as compared to conventional shirred sticks.
Article aspects of the present invention are as follows:
A casing article comprising in combination, an elongated tubular core member having a sizing member affixed thereto at one end, and a continuous length of a controllably premoisturized tubular casing shirred and compacted over substantially the entire length of said tubular core member, said sizing member being disposed within an unshirred portion of said casing and having an outer periphery of substantially fixed circumference which is larger than the interior circumference of said casing, such that said casing is stretched outwardly when the casing is drawn around and over said periphery, said periphery having a casing contact ~urface area which produces a minimal holdback force on the casing so that the casing can be drawn easily around and over the periphery of the sizing member when no other holdback forces are applied thereto.
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A casing article comprising in combination, an elongated tubular core member having a sizing member affixed thereto at one end, and a continuous length of a controllably premoisturized tubular casing shirred and X
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~L2 ~ r;~7 compacted over substantially the entire length o~ said tubular core member, said sizing member being disposed within an unshirred portion of said casing and having an outer periphery of substantially fixed circumference which is larger than the interior circumference of said casing, said sizing member comprising a substantially unresilient wall which flares outwardly from said one end and terminates in a relatively narrow rim that defines said outer periphery of substantially ~ixed circumference and said rim maintaining substantially line contact with the interior circumference of qaid casing, such that said casing is stretched outwardly when the casing is drawn around and over said rim, said substantially line contact providing a casing contact surface area which produces a minimal holdback force on said casing so that said casing can be drawn easily around and over said rim when no other holdback forces are applied to said casing.
The internal sizing member is preferably conical in shape as opposed to a cylindrical disc and is, preferably, made integral with the outer end of the tubular core member. This sizing member can be conveniently made by molding the sizing member in one piece with the tubular core member. Since the sizing membsr must stretch the casing, it must be made of a substantially unresilient material such as metal or, preferably, a rigid plastic such as high density polyethylene.
The engaging member preferably includes an annular projection which surrounds the inner circumference thereof and can coact with the internal sizing member to create a convoluted casing path.
Preferably, the annular projection on the engaging member is adapted to enter the open annular space defined between the conical sizing member and the stuffing horn. This arrangement is utilized to effectively increase the convolution of the casing passage and thereby produces a siynificant portion of the holdback force to control or reyulate the internal stuffing pressure.
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-lua-iO~S7 DescriPtion of the Drawinq The present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with particular reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Figure 1 is an elevational sectional view showing apparatus according to the present invention during the stuffing operation;
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: ; i ~ ~fiO7~7 Figure 2 is a similar view showing the same apparatus during the constriction and gathering operation;
Figure 3 is an exploded view showing an assembly for mounting and adjusting the longitud~nal position of the casing ~rticle on the stuf~ing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Description o the Preferred Embodiments Referring now more particularly to the dr~wings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 an appara~us according to the present invention or stuffing a flowable product sush as a meat emulsion 10 into continuous lengths of tubular cellulosic casing 1~. Preferably, the casing 12 is a controllably premoisturlzed casing which is shirred and compacted tightly onto an elongated plastic tube or core 14 to form a eomplete casing article depicted generally by the reference numeral 16. ~he casing article 16 ~s loaded onto the stuffing apparatus by placing the plastic tube or core 1~
over the elongated stuffi~g horn 18. Only tho~e parts of the ~tuffing apparatus are shown that are considered essential to an understanding of the present invention.
The ca~ing ar icle 16 is detachably mounted onto the apparatus by means of a pair of mounting plates 20, 22~ These mounting pla~es each have coinciding openings through which passes the aft end of the stuff~ng horn 18. The outermost plate 22 is fixed to a part of the apparatus, not chown, while the other innermost plate 20 is removably secured theretc as by set screws, ~lso not shown. The .
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~6()7~57 innermo~t plat~ 20 carries around the periphery of its opening an interrupted flange element 24 which forms part of a conventional bayonet mount arrangement. The inboard end of the plastic tube or core 14 is formed with similar spaced interrupted flange elements as at 26 which engage the flange element 24 and detachably lock the tube in place upon ro~ation.
A conically shaped siz~ng member 28 is d;sposed within the interior of the tubular casing 12~ The sizing member 28 iS affixed to the fore end of the elongated plastic tube or core 14 and preferably, thou~h not necessaril~, is made an integral part thereof. In the embodiment of the stuffing apparatus ~hown, the si2ing member 28 is molded in one piece with the plastic ~ube or core 14. Alternatively, the sizing member 28 can be made as a separate piece and then suitably secured onto the end of the plastic tube or core 14. The sizing member 28 can also be detachably secured by suitable means ~o ~he stuffing horn ~f desired.
The conically shaped sizing member 28 in its preferred form includes an outwardly flared wall 30 terminating at its outer edge in a narrow, rounded peripheral rim,32. The wall 30 is disposed at an ang}e ~ with respect to the longitudinal axis of the plastic tube or core 14 defining an open annular ~pace 34 between the wall 30 and the outer surface of the ~tuffing horn 1~.
The elongated plastic tube or core 14 i~
preferably made as long as possible in order to incorporate the maximum leng~h of shirred tubular ~asing within the casing ~r~icle 16. ~owever, the plastic tube o`r core 14 is shorter than the overall D-13,924 ,, :
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~0~757 length of the stuffing horn 18 leaving a part of the latter exposed in an area adjacent to the discharge end 3S.
A snubbing ring or engaging member 38 is disposed concen rically around the exposed area on ~he stuff~ng horn 18. The engaging member 38 contacts the exterior ~urface of the stretched, unshirred casing 12 and infolds the casing as it i~
drawn ~rom around the ou~er r~m 32 of ~he sizing member 28.
The engaging member 38 is ~ormed around its inner periphery with an annular, arcuate ~haped projection 40. The annular projection 40 contacts the exterior surface of the Etretched, unshirred casin~ 12 and, in concert with the ~izing member 28, produces a holdback ~orce on the casingO Th~ ~nner periphery of the engaying member 38 also holds the casing 12 snugly around the discharge end 3S of the stuffing horn 1~. This preYents back flow of the meat emulsion extruded from the stuffing horn 18, that i8, ~he engaging ~ember prevents the meat emul~lon from entering the casing 12 at a point inboard of the engaging member 3B.
The outer periphery of the engaging member 38 is secured inside an annular groove 42 formed on the inner Eurface of a circular carriage 44. This carriage 44 ~s connected to a suitable driv~
m~chan~sm, n~t ~hown, which is adapted to move the carriage 44 and engaging member 38 longitudinally along the exposed area on the stuffing horn 18 in both the fore and aft direction as depicted by the arrow~. The mec~anism for driving the carriage 44 may be, for example, a pair of pneuma~ic cylinders operating in ~`andem or any 3imilar device.
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As the meat emulsion 10 extrudes from the discharge end 36 of the stuffing horn 18 under pressure from an emulsion pumpO not hown, the meat emulsion fills the tubular casing 12 outwardly to the desired stuffing circumference. Tha casing 12 is continuously dechirred from the casing ar~icle ~6 and is drawn over the peripheral rim 32 of the sizing member 28. The rim 32 ~tretches the casing outwardly to about its recommended ætuff diameter and there~y reduces the internal pressure required to complete ~he stuffing operation. The stretched casing 12 is then infolded and continuously drawn around the arcuate annular projection or extended lip 40 of engaging member 38. The ring 38 contacts the casing and holds ~t snugly against the surface of the stuffing horn 18.
During the stuffing operation, the engaging member 38 is positloned adjacent to the conically shaped sizing member 28 as illustrated in the view of Figure 1. In this positon of the engaging member 38, the extended lip 40 is placed inside the annular space 34 between the ~lared wall 30 and the stuffing horn 18. It will be s~en by ~his arrangement that the infolded ~ection of the casing 12 actually reverseq direction fol~owing a convoluted path first inwardly and rearwardly as it passes ~hrough the ~pace 34 and then in the forward direction again as the cas~ny i~ drawn around the extended lip 40~
This convoluted path that the casing 10 is forced to follow creates the additional holdback force which is necessary ~o enable the casing to be fully stuffed to the desired stuffed diameter.
As soon as She casing 12 is filled to a predetermined length with mea~ emulsion 10, emulsion D-13,924 ~2~07~7 flow is shut off and the engaging member 38 is moved along the stuffing horn lB by the carriage 44 and lts associated drive mechanism to a position close to the horn discharge end 36 as shown in the view of ~igure 2. This substantially reduces tha total.
holdback force of ~he engaging member on the casing, while leaving undisturbed that portion of the total holdback for~e con ributed by the stretching ~ction of the sizing member.
A pair of ~onstriction plates 46, 48, are located just ahead of the discharge end 36 of the ~uf f ing horn 18 . These plates simultaneously close together to constrict the filled casing 12 as shown in the view of Figure 2. The extra casing required to form the ~ear or trail~ng end of the just-stuffed produ~t length and the f ront end of the succeeding "nex~-to-be-stuffed" product length is pulled from the shirred casing supply, and over the sizing member, by the action of the constriction plates.
This ability to draw casing from the shirred casing supply, as needed, is brought about by controllably eliminating a large portion of the total holdback force required for stuffing, by moving the engaging member and ~hereby reducing its holdback contribution through minimizing the casing contact ~rea cn the arcuate annular projection 40, as shown in Figure 2.
A pair of clips (not shown) seal the rear end of th~ just-stuffed product length and the fron~
end of ~he next product length, and a severing means lnot shown~ ~aparates the casing between the clips.
The engasing member 38 is withdrawn from horn discharge end 36 and positioned again adjacent to the conically shaped ~izing member 2~. Emulsion D-13,924 ;
~L~6~)~57 flow is reactivated, and stuffing of the next product length commences.
While in ~ha stuffing position shown in Figure 1, the arcuate annular project~on 40 of the engaging member 38 co~ct6 w~th the sizing member 28 to force the tubular casing 12 to follow a convoluted path as it deshirrs from the casing supply. This creates a high frictional holdback force on the casing which, when coupled with the holdback force created by the stretching action of si~in~ member 28, provides a total holdback force sufficient to control or regulate the internal stuffing pressure, thereby insuring that the casing will stuff out to the desired stuffed diameter or stuffed circumference.
The rim 32 formed by the outer periphery of the sizing member 28 has a relatively small surface area which contacts the interior of the casing 12.
While stretching the casing 12 to about its recommended stuf~ing circumference, said sizing member, therefore, produces a minimal holdback force on the ~asing. When in the constriction and ~athering position shown in Figure 2, the major portion of the total holdback force which is acting on the casing becomes tpat portion which ~s due to this stretching contact of the sizing member. This allows the constricting and gathering action ~o ~asily draw casing from the shirred casing supply o~er the rim 32 as required. There is, therefore, no necessity to move or reciprocate the casing supp}y 16 to create slack during the constriction, gathering ~nd cl~pping operation It is only necessary to move the engaging member 38 approximately ~/8-inch away from the sizing member D-13,924 -~60~
~ 17 -28 to eliminate a ~ubstantial portion of the total holdback force on the casing.
An important advantage of the above described arrangement is that it is no longer necessary to provlde space for reciprocating the plasti~ tube or core 140 Conse~uently, the core can be longer and, thereby, a maximum len~th of shirred cas~ng can now be applied to the plas~ic tube or core 14 during assembly of ~he casing article 14.
This advantage is of signif$cant value in the case where a controllably premolstur$zed, shirred casing is employedO
Although the plastic tube or core 14 is held stationary on the stuffing horn 18 throughout operat$on of the apparatus, it may be convenient if not necessary~ to meet special user requirements, to adjust the position of the tube or core 14 and in turn the location of the conically shaped sizing member 2B with respect to She engaging member 38.
This is readily accomplished in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a mounting plate ad~ustment mechanism 50. This mechanism may con~ist, for example, of a rotatable knob 52 having a tubular extension 54 mounted on a stationary shaft 56. The tubular extension 54 is threadably engaged inside a tubular sleeva 58 which in turn is fixed}y secured in an opening 60 ~ormed within the mounting plate 22. I~ will be seen then that by simply rotat~ng the knob 52 either clockwise or counterclockwise~ the plate 22 and, in turn, the tube or core 14 can be moved, in small increments, longi~udinally in either direc~ion along the length of the 3tu~fing horn 18.
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Thi~ movement of the tube or core 14 causes the conically ~haped sizing member 28 to relocate either closer to or farther from the engaging member 38 and its projection 40, thereby controlling the amount of total holdback to be developed in the ~asing supply. ~y properly adjusting the distance between the sizing member 28 and the engaging member 38, provision is thereby made to assure that an optimum portion of the casing contact surface area on the arcuate annular projection 40 will be in contact with the infolded casing during stuffing in order to provide that the total holdback force will produce the desired stuffed ~asing circumference or diameter. The mechanism whereby the level of holdback contributed by the engaging member 38 is Gontrolled, involves the amount of casing 12 which is wrapped around arcuate projection 40 as the casing moves over the sizing member 28 and ~ast the engaging member. The closer ~he engaging member 38 is set to the sizing member 28, the greater the amount o~ ~asing wrap and, therefore, the higher the holdback force.
Similarly, when the distance is greater, the casing wrap is less, and with a lesser casing wrap a lesser holdback ~orce is prod~ced.
In the practice of the present invention, the angle ~ defined between the ~lared wall 30 and the longitudinal axis of ~he plas~ic tube or core 14 may be any angle in a range of between about 30 and 75 d~grees, for example~ Preferably, the angle~3 is about 45~ This preferred angle provides a ~pace 34 for creating casing holdback.
An a~ternate and pre~erred assembly for detachably mou'nt~ng the casing ~rticle on the D-13,924 . . :
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i ~IL2~07S7 ~tufing apparatus and adjusting the longitudinal position of tube or core 14 is shown in Figure 3O
An internally threaded outer ring 62, provided with openings 64 about its periphery, is mounted concentric to the stuffing horn 18 and bolted to the horn atta~hment nut 66 of the stuffing apparatus.
An ex~ernally Shreaded adju~ting r~ng 60 i6 concentrically mounted around the stuffing horn and threadably engag~d within outer ring 62. A number o~ adjusting holes 70 are radially bored around ~he periphery of the ~djusting ring 80 that they are accessible through the openings 64 of outer ring 62 for the insertion of a rod ~not shown) into a hole 70 for ~djusting the position of ring 60 within ring ~2 by rotating ring 60. An adapter ring 72 is, in turn, mounted concentric to the stuffing horn and bolted to the face 74 of adjusting ring 60. The adapter ring carries around the periphery of its opening 76 an interrupted flange element 78 which ~orms p~rt of a ~onventional bayonet mount arrangement. Only the adapter ring 72 need be changed to accommodate di~ferent tubular ~-ore inboard sizes. As earlier described, the inboard end of the plastic tube or core 14 of the casing article is formed with a slmilar spaced interrupted flange element which engages the flange element 78 and detachably locks the tube in place upon rotationO It will be seen that by simply rotating the externally ~hreaded adjusting ring 60, within the internally threaded outer ring 62, the adapter ring 72 ~nd, in .urn, the tube or core 14 of ~he casing article can be moved longi~udinally in either direction along the stuffing horn 18, establishing D-13,924 ~L~607S~
any desired relationship between the sizing member 28 and the engaging member 38.
While a preferred embodiment has been described herein, it ~hould be appreciated that other arrangements of a movable external engaging member and ~ ~tationary internal sizing member wou~d fall within the ~cope of the claimed invention. For example, the internal ~izing member could have a convoluted outer periphery which would impart little , or no prestretching or holdback to the casing until an engaging member, prov~ded with a plurality of fingers or protuberances, pressed and stretched the casing into the recessed por~ions of the convoluted izing member~
Similarly, the internal sizing member can have a shape (e.g. ellipsoidal, hemispherical, etc.) other than a conical shape, as long as an annular space is provided between said ~iæing member and the stuffing horn to allow coaction with ~he engaging member, and provided that the contact area of the sizing member with the casi.ng is roughly equivalent to that provided by the rim of a conical ~izing member~
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Claims (30)
1. In an apparatus for stuffing a flowable product into continuous lengths of tubular casing, the combination which comprises:
an elongated stuffing horn;
a shirred casing supply mounted onto The stuffing horn, said casing supply comprising controllably premoisturized casing;
a sizing member disposed within an unshirred portion of the shirred casing supply and having an outer circumference which contacts the inner surface of the casing for stretching the casing to a predetermined dimension;
an engaging member surrounding the stuffing horn and contacting the outer surface of the stretched unshirred casing for folding the casing inwardly as it is drawn around and over the sizing member, the engaging member having a casing contact surface area, an optimum portion of which contacts the casing when the engaging member is positioned adjacent to the sizing member, thereby producing a high holdback force on the casing during stuffing;
means for controllably moving the engaging member along the stuffing horn from a position adjacent to the sizing member to a position adjacent to the discharge end of the stuffing horn in order to decrease the casing contact surface area actually in contact with the casing, thereby substantially reducing the holdback force on the casing; and means for holding the sizing member stationary on the stuffing horn.
an elongated stuffing horn;
a shirred casing supply mounted onto The stuffing horn, said casing supply comprising controllably premoisturized casing;
a sizing member disposed within an unshirred portion of the shirred casing supply and having an outer circumference which contacts the inner surface of the casing for stretching the casing to a predetermined dimension;
an engaging member surrounding the stuffing horn and contacting the outer surface of the stretched unshirred casing for folding the casing inwardly as it is drawn around and over the sizing member, the engaging member having a casing contact surface area, an optimum portion of which contacts the casing when the engaging member is positioned adjacent to the sizing member, thereby producing a high holdback force on the casing during stuffing;
means for controllably moving the engaging member along the stuffing horn from a position adjacent to the sizing member to a position adjacent to the discharge end of the stuffing horn in order to decrease the casing contact surface area actually in contact with the casing, thereby substantially reducing the holdback force on the casing; and means for holding the sizing member stationary on the stuffing horn.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sizing member has a casing contact surface area producing a holdback force on the casing which in concert with the holdback force produced by the engaging member insures that the casing will stuff to about the desired stuffed circumference, but which at the same time permits the casing to be easily drawn around and over its periphery when the holdback force produced by the engaging member is reduced.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the engaging member is of annular shape having an inner periphery of a size sufficient to hold the casing around the exterior surface of the stuffing horn.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sizing member is shaped to provide an annular opening between the sizing member and the stuffing horn.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the engaging member includes an annular projection adapted to enter the annular opening formed by the sizing member when the engaging member is positioned adjacent thereto.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the sizing member is conically shaped.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for holding the sizing member stationary comprises a tubular core member supporting the shirred casing supply over its length.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the sizing member is affixed to the end of the tubular core member and is shaped to provide an annular opening between the sizing member and the stuffing horn.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the engaging member further includes an annular projection adapted to enter the annular opening formed by the sizing member when the engaging member is positioned adjacent thereto.
10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the sizing member is coincally shaped.
11. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including at least one mounting plate located adjacent to the inboard end of the tubular core member for holding the same in stationary position on the stuffing horn.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 further including means for adjusting the stationary position of the tubular core member.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the adjustment means comprises an adjustable screw attached to the mounting plate.
14. Apparatus according to claim 12 further including a second mounting plate removably attached to said first mentioned mounting plate for attaching different size tubular core members.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the tubular core member is attached to the second mounting plate by means of a bayonet mount arrangement.
16. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for gathering the tubular casing after a predetermined amount of the flowable product has been discharged from the stuffing horn.
17. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including an internally threaded outer ring located adjacent to the inboard end of the tubular core member for holding the same in stationary position on the stuffing horn.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17 further including means for adjusting the stationary position of the tubular core member.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the adjustment means comprises an externally threaded adjusting ring threadably engaged with the outer ring and detachably attached to the tubular core member by means coacting with the inboard end of the core member.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the means coacting with the inboard end of the tubular core member comprises a bayonet mount engagement means.
21. A method of stuffing a flowable product into continuous lengths of tubular casing which have been shirred and mounted onto an elongated stuffing horn comprising:
mounting a shirred casing supply and a sizing member onto a stuffing horn, said sizing member being mounted within an unshirred portion of the shirred casing supply and said sizing member having a periphery which is larger than the circumference of the casing in its initial unstuffed condition, and said casing supply comprising controllably premoisturized casing;
placing around the exterior of the tubular casing an engaging member adapted to fold the stretched unshirred casing inwardly as it passes around and over the sizing member, the engaging member having a casing contact surface area of which an optimum portion contacts the casing when the engaging member is positioned adjacent to the sizing member;
positioning the engaging member adjacent to the sizing member;
drawing the tubular casing over the sizing member and stretching the casing to about the desired stuffed circumference;
folding the stretched unshirred casing inwardly through the engaging member while maintaining the casing in contact with an optimum portion of the casing contact surface area, thereby producing a high holdback force on the casing;
filling the tubular casing with the flowable product until a predetermined length of casing has been stuffed to about the desired stuffed circumference;
moving the engaging member longitudinally along the stuffing horn from its position adjacent to the sizing member to a point proximate to the discharge end of the stuffing horn to effectively decrease the casing contact surface area actually in contact with the casing, thereby substantially reducing the holdback force on the casing; and then gathering the casing around the end of the stuffed product, and thereby pulling a necessary additional amount of casing over the sizing member to form the rear end of the just stuffed product length and the front end of the succeeding next product length to be stuffed.
mounting a shirred casing supply and a sizing member onto a stuffing horn, said sizing member being mounted within an unshirred portion of the shirred casing supply and said sizing member having a periphery which is larger than the circumference of the casing in its initial unstuffed condition, and said casing supply comprising controllably premoisturized casing;
placing around the exterior of the tubular casing an engaging member adapted to fold the stretched unshirred casing inwardly as it passes around and over the sizing member, the engaging member having a casing contact surface area of which an optimum portion contacts the casing when the engaging member is positioned adjacent to the sizing member;
positioning the engaging member adjacent to the sizing member;
drawing the tubular casing over the sizing member and stretching the casing to about the desired stuffed circumference;
folding the stretched unshirred casing inwardly through the engaging member while maintaining the casing in contact with an optimum portion of the casing contact surface area, thereby producing a high holdback force on the casing;
filling the tubular casing with the flowable product until a predetermined length of casing has been stuffed to about the desired stuffed circumference;
moving the engaging member longitudinally along the stuffing horn from its position adjacent to the sizing member to a point proximate to the discharge end of the stuffing horn to effectively decrease the casing contact surface area actually in contact with the casing, thereby substantially reducing the holdback force on the casing; and then gathering the casing around the end of the stuffed product, and thereby pulling a necessary additional amount of casing over the sizing member to form the rear end of the just stuffed product length and the front end of the succeeding next product length to be stuffed.
22. Method according to claim 21 further including the step of holding the sizing member stationary with respect to the stuffing horn.
23. Method according to claim 20 wherein the sizing member produces a holdback force on the casing which in concert with the holdback force produced by the engaging member insures that the casing will stuff to about the desired stuffed circumference, but which at the same time permits the casing to be easily drawn around and over its periphery when the holdback force produced by the engaging member is reduced.
24. Method according to claim 21 wherein the sizing member is positioned at the end of a tubular core member mounted in stationary position on the stuffing horn and supporting the shirred casing supply.
25. Method according to claim 24 further including the step of infolding the stretched, deshirred casing a short distance along the length of the stuffing horn in a direction opposite to that from which the casing is drawn over the sizing member to thereby assist in producing a high holdback force on the casing.
26. Method according to claim 25 wherein the casing follows a convoluted path around an annular projection provided on the engaging member and wherein the annular projection is positioned inside an annular opening formed around the stuffing horn by the shape of the sizing member.
27. Method according to claim 26 wherein the sizing member is conically shaped.
28. Method according to claim 22 further including the step of adjusting the stationary position of the sizing member along the length of the stuffing horn in order to regulate the holdback force on the casing.
29. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:
a) a substantially unresilient wall which flares outwardly towards the stuffing horn discharge end, said wall terminating in a relatively narrow rim that defines a fixed outer circumference larger in circumference than the inner circumference of the casing in said casing supply for maintaining a continuous and substantially unresilient line contact with the inner surface of said casing during the stretching of said casing to said predetermined dimension; and b) said rim-to-casing line contact providing a holdback force on the casing of a minimum magnitude when said engaging member is at said position adjacent the discharge end of the stuffing horn which allows the casing to be easily drawn around and over said rim.
a) a substantially unresilient wall which flares outwardly towards the stuffing horn discharge end, said wall terminating in a relatively narrow rim that defines a fixed outer circumference larger in circumference than the inner circumference of the casing in said casing supply for maintaining a continuous and substantially unresilient line contact with the inner surface of said casing during the stretching of said casing to said predetermined dimension; and b) said rim-to-casing line contact providing a holdback force on the casing of a minimum magnitude when said engaging member is at said position adjacent the discharge end of the stuffing horn which allows the casing to be easily drawn around and over said rim.
30. A method according to claim 21 including:
a) said sizing member comprising a substantially unresilient wall which flares outwardly towards the stuffing horn discharge end and terminates in a narrow rim having a fixed outer circumference;
b) contacting said narrow rim against the inner surface of the casing so as to provide a substantially line contact there between; and c) maintaining said line contact and producing thereby on the unshirred casing portion a holdback force of a first minimum magnitude so that casing can be deshirred from the shirred supply and drawn easily around and over the rim when the engaging member is at said position from the sizing member proximate the discharge end of the stuffing horn.
a) said sizing member comprising a substantially unresilient wall which flares outwardly towards the stuffing horn discharge end and terminates in a narrow rim having a fixed outer circumference;
b) contacting said narrow rim against the inner surface of the casing so as to provide a substantially line contact there between; and c) maintaining said line contact and producing thereby on the unshirred casing portion a holdback force of a first minimum magnitude so that casing can be deshirred from the shirred supply and drawn easily around and over the rim when the engaging member is at said position from the sizing member proximate the discharge end of the stuffing horn.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000575299A CA1260757A (en) | 1983-05-20 | 1988-08-19 | Stuffing method and apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US49533283A | 1983-05-20 | 1983-05-20 | |
| US495,332 | 1983-05-20 | ||
| CA000454756A CA1244709A (en) | 1983-05-20 | 1984-05-18 | Stuffing method and apparatus |
| CA000575299A CA1260757A (en) | 1983-05-20 | 1988-08-19 | Stuffing method and apparatus |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000454756A Division CA1244709A (en) | 1983-05-20 | 1984-05-18 | Stuffing method and apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1260757A true CA1260757A (en) | 1989-09-26 |
Family
ID=25670394
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000575299A Expired CA1260757A (en) | 1983-05-20 | 1988-08-19 | Stuffing method and apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1260757A (en) |
-
1988
- 1988-08-19 CA CA000575299A patent/CA1260757A/en not_active Expired
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