GB2099392A

GB2099392A - Shirred casings

Info

Publication number: GB2099392A
Application number: GB8214126A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Scobie & Junor Est 1919 Ltd
Current assignee: Scobie & Junor Est 1919 Ltd
Priority date: 1981-05-15
Filing date: 1982-05-14
Publication date: 1982-12-08

Abstract

The present invention provides a device comprising a tubular carrier 10 adapted for location on the tube or barrel of a packaging machine (not shown) from which a product to be packaged is ejected to automatically draw a portion of tubular packaging material to surround it said carrier carrying a supply of tubular packaging material 11, e.g. an elasticated netting, compressed axially thereof. The carrier may be a plastics material or cardboard and means is provided for securing it to the machine barrel; for example, the carrier of plastics may have a bayonet joint type fixing while the cardboard carrier may be retained on the barrel by a clamp. The use of the device avoids the manual loading or shirring of the netting on to the tube or barrel of the machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cartridge netting This invention relates to a device for use in enveloping an article in a sleeve like package.

Heretofore, a particular problem has existed in the meat trade in packaging rolls and pieces of meat in elasticated tubular netting; this problem has been the loading of a supply of netting on to a tube or barrel from which meat is ejected (the ejected meat automatically drawing out a portion of the netting surrounding it).

The loading of the tube with netting is difficult and time consuming; the loader's hands can become sore and the netting can be damaged. Manual loading enables only a relatively small length of netting to be loaded at one time, usually 3 to 4 metres, closely bunched on the tube which may be about 45 cms in length. Usually after a number of pieces of meat have been packaged, a small amount of netting is left over, the end piece, which is too short to be used, thus resulting in wastage.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for use on a machine for enveloping an article in a sleeve like package, comprising a tubular carrier adapted for location on the tube or barrel of the machine from which a product to be packaged is ejected, said carrier carrying a supply of sleeve like packing material compressed axially thereof.

Preferably the packaging material is elasticated netting in an expanded diameter condition.

Preferably also, the packaging material is loaded onto the carrier by mechanical means.

The carrier may be a plastics material or cardboard and means is provided for securing it to the machine barrel; for example, the carrier of plastics may have a bayonet joint type fixing while the cardboard carrier may be retained on the barrel by a belt clamp.

The carrier may be disposable once the netting has been used; hence the use of plastics or cardboard. The carrier may however, be reusable and made, e.g. of metal or a plastics material which could be sterilised before re-use.

Netting loaded onto the carrier by mechanical means will be more compact than if loaded by hand; consequently a greater length of netting will be carried by the carrier, and the number of end pieces compared with hand loaded netting will be reduced, thus reducing the amount of material wasted. The netting is loaded in an expanded-diameter condition.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side perspective view from the front of a device according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view from the front but to a different scale of a means for securing the device to a meat ejector machine.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a cylindrical carrier 10 carrying a length of sleeve-like elasticated netting 11 in the expanded state. One end of the netting has been pulled forward off the carrier and contracted to form a substantially closed front end 12. The extreme end 13 is contracted to provide a small circular opening from which the netting extends radially and concentrically to form the front end.

At the rear end of the carrier 10 there is a clear area 14 which is engaged by a clamp to hold the carrier on the barrier of the ejector packaging machine (not shown).

Figure 2 illustrates a collar clamp 20 which can be used with an existing machine. The clamp has a cylindrical body or collar in which a portion 21 is cut out so that the clamp can locate on the end of the machine's ejector tube (not shown) and fit around an upstanding bracket which carries the tube at one end and means for attachment to a work bench at the other end. The cut out portion 21 is at the underside of the collar.

A pair of opposed screw clamps 22 are carried by the body or collar one at each side and these can be tightened against the carrier when it is located in the annular space between the ejector tube and the clamp body.

New machines can be produced with the clamp forming an integral part thereof, but the clamp illustrated in Figure 2 can be supplied to users having existing machines which normally carry the netting directly on their ejector tubes.

In use, the loaded carrier tube is mounted on the tube or barrel of the machine and secured in position. The end of the netting is drawn over the outlet of the barrel and contracts to form a substantially closed end. A piece of meat located in the barrel is then ejected and as it moves out of the barrel it draws a short length of netting with it, the netting automatically contracting around the meat.

The netting is cut behind the packed piece and the cycle repeated. Once the tubular carrier is empty it is removed and replaced.

Atube of netting as hereinbefore described is an advantage in that the time taken to load the machine is greatly reduced; also there will be no damage to the loader's hands or to the netting.

Another advantage of the tube of netting is that, when mounted mechanically on the tube a very light netting can be used, i.e. the netting used may be of smaller diameter than normal; for example, a 5" diameter netting is presently sold for manually fitting onto the 5" barrel. A tube of netting as hereinbefore described can carry a 4" diameter netting with a consequent reduction in the cost of the netting.

The packaging material may be otherthan netting, for example a skin for use in making products such as gammons, black puddings and the like.

1. A device for use on a machine for enveloping an article in a sleeve like package, comprising a tubular carrier adapted for location on the tube or barrel of the machine from which a product to be packaged is ejected, said carrier carrying a supply of sleeve like packing material compressed axially

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cartridge netting This invention relates to a device for use in enveloping an article in a sleeve like package. Heretofore, a particular problem has existed in the meat trade in packaging rolls and pieces of meat in elasticated tubular netting; this problem has been the loading of a supply of netting on to a tube or barrel from which meat is ejected (the ejected meat automatically drawing out a portion of the netting surrounding it). The loading of the tube with netting is difficult and time consuming; the loader's hands can become sore and the netting can be damaged. Manual loading enables only a relatively small length of netting to be loaded at one time, usually 3 to 4 metres, closely bunched on the tube which may be about 45 cms in length. Usually after a number of pieces of meat have been packaged, a small amount of netting is left over, the end piece, which is too short to be used, thus resulting in wastage. An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned disadvantages. According to the present invention there is provided a device for use on a machine for enveloping an article in a sleeve like package, comprising a tubular carrier adapted for location on the tube or barrel of the machine from which a product to be packaged is ejected, said carrier carrying a supply of sleeve like packing material compressed axially thereof. Preferably the packaging material is elasticated netting in an expanded diameter condition. Preferably also, the packaging material is loaded onto the carrier by mechanical means. The carrier may be a plastics material or cardboard and means is provided for securing it to the machine barrel; for example, the carrier of plastics may have a bayonet joint type fixing while the cardboard carrier may be retained on the barrel by a belt clamp. The carrier may be disposable once the netting has been used; hence the use of plastics or cardboard. The carrier may however, be reusable and made, e.g. of metal or a plastics material which could be sterilised before re-use. Netting loaded onto the carrier by mechanical means will be more compact than if loaded by hand; consequently a greater length of netting will be carried by the carrier, and the number of end pieces compared with hand loaded netting will be reduced, thus reducing the amount of material wasted. The netting is loaded in an expanded-diameter condition. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side perspective view from the front of a device according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view from the front but to a different scale of a means for securing the device to a meat ejector machine. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a cylindrical carrier 10 carrying a length of sleeve-like elasticated netting 11 in the expanded state. One end of the netting has been pulled forward off the carrier and contracted to form a substantially closed front end 12. The extreme end 13 is contracted to provide a small circular opening from which the netting extends radially and concentrically to form the front end. At the rear end of the carrier 10 there is a clear area 14 which is engaged by a clamp to hold the carrier on the barrier of the ejector packaging machine (not shown). Figure 2 illustrates a collar clamp 20 which can be used with an existing machine. The clamp has a cylindrical body or collar in which a portion 21 is cut out so that the clamp can locate on the end of the machine's ejector tube (not shown) and fit around an upstanding bracket which carries the tube at one end and means for attachment to a work bench at the other end. The cut out portion 21 is at the underside of the collar. A pair of opposed screw clamps 22 are carried by the body or collar one at each side and these can be tightened against the carrier when it is located in the annular space between the ejector tube and the clamp body. New machines can be produced with the clamp forming an integral part thereof, but the clamp illustrated in Figure 2 can be supplied to users having existing machines which normally carry the netting directly on their ejector tubes. In use, the loaded carrier tube is mounted on the tube or barrel of the machine and secured in position. The end of the netting is drawn over the outlet of the barrel and contracts to form a substantially closed end. A piece of meat located in the barrel is then ejected and as it moves out of the barrel it draws a short length of netting with it, the netting automatically contracting around the meat. The netting is cut behind the packed piece and the cycle repeated. Once the tubular carrier is empty it is removed and replaced. Atube of netting as hereinbefore described is an advantage in that the time taken to load the machine is greatly reduced; also there will be no damage to the loader's hands or to the netting. Another advantage of the tube of netting is that, when mounted mechanically on the tube a very light netting can be used, i.e. the netting used may be of smaller diameter than normal; for example, a 5" diameter netting is presently sold for manually fitting onto the 5" barrel. A tube of netting as hereinbefore described can carry a 4" diameter netting with a consequent reduction in the cost of the netting. The packaging material may be otherthan netting, for example a skin for use in making products such as gammons, black puddings and the like. CLAIMS

1. A device for use on a machine for enveloping an article in a sleeve like package, comprising a tubular carrier adapted for location on the tube or barrel of the machine from which a product to be packaged is ejected, said carrier carrying a supply of sleeve like packing material compressed axially thereof.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the packaging material is elasticated netting in an expanded diameter condition.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the packaging material is loaded onto the carrier by mechanical means.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the carrier is a plastics material or cardboard and means is provided for securing it to the machine barrel.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which the carrier is of plastics material and has a bayonet joint type fixing.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which a cardboard carrier is retained on the barrel by a collar clamp.

7. A device for use in a machine for enveloping an article in a sleeve like package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.