GB1169314A - Method of and Apparatus for Making and Filling Tubular Containers - Google Patents

Abstract

1,169,314. Filling and linking tubular casings. E. D. GOLDMANN. 8 Feb., 1968 [17 Feb., 1967], No. 6404/68. Heading A2B. [Also in Division B8] Tubular containers, similar to sausage casings, are shirred on a filling nozzle from which plastic substances are extruded against the sealed end of the tube until a desired length is obtained, the filling tube then being drawn off by other means whilst the filling pressure is relaxed to produce a break in the substance, the shirred part being rotated relative to the filled part or vice versa about their longitudinal axis to form a twisted closure in the tube material surrounding the break. The filling nozzle 2 is surrounded by a twisting pipe 6, the latter being rotatable at the filling end 8, the twisting pipe has a ring 10 which tensions a shirred tube 12 as it is drawn off by the substance. At a length defined by an adjustably positioned switch 17, the filling pressure is relaxed and grippers 18 draw the tube through a distance a, Fig. 2, which creates an empty portion of the tube. The tube 6, is then rotated, causing the empty section to twist Fig. 4 (not shown). The twisted portion can be augmented with stitching or clamping and the containers separated by severing. The twisting pipe is removeable so that different sizes can be fitted. A device, Fig. 5, for shirring the tube 12 onto a removed twisting pipe 6, comprises a ram 30 which reciprocates the pipe. After the leading end of the tube 12 has been manually drawn over the pipe, with the latter in the raised position grippers 35, advance to engage the tube. The pipe is then moved down gathering the leading tube portion at its upper end. The grippers withdraw, the pipe is raised and the grippers advance again. The pipe descends, to shirr a further tube length. This is repeated until the entire tube is gathered.