EP0894729B1

EP0894729B1 - Staple for the sealing of sausages

Info

Publication number: EP0894729B1
Application number: EP19980500152
Authority: EP
Inventors: Angel Lorenzo Barroso
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-28
Filing date: 1998-06-29
Publication date: 2001-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-29
Also published as: ES1037953U; DE69803016T2; EP0894729A1; DE69803016D1; ES1037953Y

Description

Technical Field of the Invention.-

The present invention relates to a staple of a general "U" configuration, applicable to the sealing of sausages.

State of the Art.-

Different types of staples applicable to the sealing of sausages are well known, but they all present an important drawback.
During the stapling process of the sausage, in principle, the outer face of the central branch of the staples and the end of the stapling machine coincide perfectly, however, as in any mechanical process, there can occur small dis-adjustments between the staples and the staple sealing punch and/or the sealing die of the corresponding stapling machine. This is due to the fact that the contact surface is smooth and so cannot take on the lateral forces derived from a non-uniform pressure along the whole outer face of the staples, so that a small angle is formed between the contact surfaces which causes a poor sealing of the sausage, including the possible tearing of the intestine of the same with the danger of microbes and bacteria entering and altering the hygienic conditions of the sausage.

Explanation of the Invention.-

The invention has as object a new embodiment of staples destined for the sealing of sausages, which provides a solution to the said drawback from which the known embodiments of this type of staples suffer.
The staple destined for the sealing of sausages, considered as an independent unit or forming part of a longitudinal string of staples, according to the present invention is characterised in that the central branch of the staple is provided on its outer face with multiple grooves, transversally placed on the said branch, adapted to collaborate with some similar and complimentary ribs, placed on the outer edge of the staple sealing punch and/or the sealing die of the corresponding stapling machine.

Brief Description of the Drawings.-

There follows a detailed description of one form of preferred embodiment, although not exclusive, of the present invention, for the better comprehension of which, are attached some drawings, given merely as a non-limitative example, in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a staple and a string of staples according to the invention, respectively; and
Figures 3 and 4 each show a front elevation view of the staple and the string of staples of figures 1 and 2, respectively, with the corresponding sealing punch.

Detailed Description of the Drawings.-

In the drawings it can be seen that the staple 1, of a general "U" configuration, applicable to the sealing of sausages, is comprised of a central branch 2, provided on its outer face with multiple grooves 3.
The grooves 3 are transversally placed on the external face of the central branch 2, observable in Figure 1 on which can be seen the staple 1, considered as an independent unit, that these grooves 3 are adapted to collaborate with some ribs 4, similar and complimentary to the grooves 3, placed on the outer edge 5 of the sealing punch 6 of the staple 1 of the corresponding stapling machine.
The staple 1 can also form part of a longitudinal string of staples 7, essentially flat, of a more or less rectangular and uniform transversal section, which presents two alternating series of pairs of obtuse angle folds, the pair of folds of one same series being in the same direction and in a contrary direction those of the next series and being alternated the pairs of folds of both series.
The entirety adopts a configuration such that, as can be seen in figures 1 and 2, it comprises two series of essentially flat and quadrangular, staggered, multiple zones, each zone being joined longitudinally to the adjacent zones of the other series by inclined and flat respective branches which converge in them. One of the faces of the string presents some transversal grooves 3, while the other face is smooth. The essentially quadrangular zones of the same series are of equal proportion.
In the case of a string of staples 7, shown in figure 4, the grooves 3 of the staple 1 are adapted to collaborate with respective and complementary ribs 4 placed in the immobile sealing die 8, while the mobile sealing punch 9 is provided with an end blade 10, to cut one unit of staple 1 from the string 7, as well as a folding concavity 11.
The nature of the invention being sufficiently described, as well as the means of putting it into practice, it is here stated that inasmuch as its functioning principle as disclosed in the appended claim is not altered, modified or changed, it may undergo minor changes.

Claims

Staple (1) for the sealing of sausages, of a general "U" configuration, characterised in that the central branch (2) of the staple (1) is provided on its outer face with multiple grooves (3), transversally placed on the said branch (2) and adapted to collaborate with some similar and complementary ribs (4), placed on the outer edge (5) of the sealing punch (6) of the staple (1) and/or on the sealing die (8) of the corresponding stapling machine.