GB2299742A - Making sausages - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing sausages includes a pair of endlessly traveling members which travel in such a manner as to form conveying areas for conveying a stuffed sausage casing and a series of pairs of pincher members attached at predetermined intervals to the pair of endlessly traveling members in such a manner as to form pairs in face-to-face relation and adapted to cooperate with each other, so as to consecutively form constricted portions by constricting the stuffed casing by means of the pairs of pincher members opposing each other in the conveying areas during the conveyance of the stuffed casing. The apparatus has a blade member provided on at least one pincher member in such a manner as to be actuatable; and a driving device for actuating the blade member to cut the constricted portion. The pincher member may comprise an opening and closing member to cut the constricted portion. Also, the constricted portion may be cut by a laser or microwaves.

Description

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SAUSAGES OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like in which a casing is stuffed with a filling for sausages or the like, and the stuffed casing thus formed is constricted to form links and is cut at the constricted portions.

Description of the Related Art: A stuffed casing which is filled with a filling is constricted at predetermined intervals to form links so as to form sausages or the like. In the case of uncooked sausages, however, the chain of linked sausages is cut at the constricted portions without being subjected to heating and cooking, so as to manufacture the products.

As apparatuses of a first type which can be used for the aforementioned uncooked sausages, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,866,497 and 3,435,482 are known. In these apparatuses, two endlessly traveling members which travel in two planes located at a predetermined interval therebetween have a linearly traveling area; pincher members and twisting rollers are attached to the two endlessly traveling members in face-to-face relation in such a manner as to cooperate with each other; the pincher members provided on the two endlessly traveling members rotate in the linearly traveling area so as to squeeze the stuffed casing and form links consecutively; and the link portion is pinched by the rollers from opposite sides and is rotated, thereby imparting twists between the upstream- and downstream-side links.Further, an apparatus is also known in which an improvement is made on such an apparatus, a blade is attached to the pincher member to cut the constricted portion after the formation of the link. In such an apparatus, the operation of the pincher members, the rollers, and the blades cooperates with a cam device so as to be actuated upon reaching a predetermined position in the linearly traveling area.

In addition, apparatuses in which the pincher members which are brought toward and away from each other are formed as a rotating type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,418,447 (corresponding Japanese patent application: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9645/1983), 4,420,856, and 4,549,330.

These apparatuses are based on a substantially identical principle in which brackets extending in an axial direction are provided at a plurality of positions on a peripheral portion of a disk rotating about a horizontal axis, a pair of forming arms is affixed to each of the brackets in such a manner as to be capable of opening and closing in the manner of butterfly wings about a pin extending in the direction of a tangent to the rotating disk. Mutually opposing V-notches are formed in the forming arms. When the pair of forming arms is open, the stuffed casing is guided in the circumferential direction by lower edges of the V-notches, and when the disk has reached a predetermined position, the pair of forming arms is closed to form and cut a constricted portion in the stuffed casing by means of innermost portions of the V-notches.

Also, an apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,566 is known as an apparatus designed with the same purpose as that of the above-described apparatus. This apparatus has a drum-shaped cylindrical member which rotates, and a straight stuffed casing is guided in the circumferential direction by a portion of its peripheral surface. Pincher members for squeezing the stuffed casing by approaching toward the axis of the cylindrical member from opposite sides of the stuffed casing are provided at respective positions of a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member in such a manner as to be capable of moving away from each other. One of the pincher members is provided with a blade.As such, as the stuffed casing is lowered while being guided from above toward below by the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, the stuffed casing is formed into links by the pincher members, and is cut at the constricted portion by the blade. Thus, one sausage or the like is dropped, and is discharged by a discharging device which travels therebelow.

The apparatuses of the above-described first type are designed for straight-shaped stuffed casings which have already been formed after undergoing a stuffing process for filling the casing with a sausage material by a stuffing machine provided separately.

Next, as a second type, an apparatus is known from U.S.

Pat. No. 4,671,042 in which, while a stuffed casing is being formed by stuffing a casing with a filling, the stuffed casing is constricted at predetermined intervals to form links, and individual links are formed by being cut at each constricted portion. In a manner similar to that of the apparatuses disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,866,497 and 3,435,482, this apparatus is arranged such that two endlessly traveling members which travel in two planes located at a predetermined interval therebetween have a linearly traveling area, and pincher members attached to the two endlessly traveling members rotate and approach each other to squeeze the stuffed casing and form links consecutively.The stuffed casing is adapted to be fed into the aforementioned linearly traveling area from a stuffing apparatus, and the stuffed casing which is subjected to a twisting torque from a rotating tube provided in the stuffing apparatus receives rotation between the constricted portions, thereby imparting twists to the constricted portions. In addition, the pincher members are provided with knives for cutting, and the cutting of the constricted portions is effected in conjunction with the formation of the links.

However, the following problems are encountered with the above-described conventional apparatuses.

First, with the apparatuses disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.

1,866,497 and 3,435,482 described as the first type, since the twisting rollers rotate the stuffed casing while squeezing and holding the outer periphery of the stuffed casing, this holding and rotating force is transmitted to the cut constricted portion as well, with the result that the cut end may possibly open up. In addition, the pincher members are located in such a manner as to be placed between the endless traveling members traveling in two parallel planes, and are movable with respect to the traveling endless traveling members. Further, the rollers are located between the two upstream- and downstream-side pincher members. Hence, the pincher members and the rollers are both complicated in their structure, and because of the complexity of the structure, it is difficult to carry out cleaning and maintenance.Accordingly, the provision of the blade on the pincher member of such an apparatus results in a very complicated structure and makes it difficult to provide maintenance.

In addition, with the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat.

No. 5,156,566, the structure is complicated since the pincher members are movable with respect to the rotating cylindrical member, and the structure is even more complex due to the provision of the blades on the pincher members.

Since the constricted portion is not twisted, the cut end can easily open up. The problem that the cut end can easily open up also applies to the apparatuses of U.S. Pat. Nos.

4,418,447, 4,420,856, and 4,549,330.

Further, all the conventional apparatuses of the first type has a common problem in that the amount of a filling stuffed per sausage link becomes nonuniform. This is because the casing is stuffed in advance with the filling by a separate stuffing apparatus, and the stuffed casing is newly formed into links and is cut, with the result that the diameter of the stuffed casing changes and is not fixed, and such a stuffed casing is cut to a fixed size in the lengthwise direction thereof. In addition, time and trouble are also required in supplying the stuffed casing to the apparatus.

Next, the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,042 performs linking while stuffing the casing, and is therefore capable of overcoming the problems of the nonuniformity of the amount of the filling stuffed per sausage link and the need of time and trouble, which were the common problems experienced with the conventional apparatuses of the first type described above. However, since the pincher members must be movable with respect to the endlessly traveling members which travel, and the movable blades are further attached to the pincher members, the structure becomes very complicated, and maintenance is made difficult.

Furthermore, in all the conventional apparatuses of the first and second types described above, the pincher members themselves undergo an opening and closing action, so that the inertial force at the time of opening and closing is large. Hence, there has been a common problem in that these apparatuses are not suitable for high-speed operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like which has a simple structure, facilitates maintenance, and permits high-speed operations, thereby overcoming the above-described problems of the conventional art.

In accordance with the present invention, the above object can be attained by the following first to third aspects of the present invention.

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like including a pair of endlessly traveling members which travel in such a manner as to form conveying areas for conveying a stuffed casing formed by filling a casing with a filling for sausages or the like and a series of pairs of pincher members attached at predetermined intervals to the pair of endlessly traveling members in such a manner as to form pairs in face-to-face relation and adapted to cooperate with each other, so as to consecutively form constricted portions by constricting the stuffed casing by means of the pairs of pincher members opposing each other in the conveying areas during the conveyance of the stuffed casing, the apparatus comprising: a blade member provided on at least one pincher member of at least one of the pairs of opposing pincher members in such a manner as to be actuatable; and driving means for actuating the blade member to cut the constricted portion constricted by the pair of pincher members, at a predetermined position in a conveying direction.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like including a pair of endlessly traveling members which travel in such a manner as to form conveying areas for conveying a stuffed casing formed by filling a casing with a filling for sausages or the like and a series of pairs of pincher members attached at predetermined intervals to the pair of endlessly traveling members in such a manner as to form pairs in face-to-face relation and adapted to cooperate with each other, so as to consecutively form constricted portions by constricting the stuffed casing by means of the pairs of pincher members opposing each other in the conveying areas during the conveyance of the stuffed casing, the apparatus comprising: an opening/closing member which constitutes at least one pincher member of at least one of the pairs of opposing pincher members and which is capable of opening and closing, opposing edge portions of the opening/closing member having a recessed portion for forming the constricted portion in the stuffed casing; and driving means for actuating the opening/closing member to cut the constricted portion constricted by the pair of pincher members, at a predetermined position in a conveying direction.

In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like including a pair of endlessly traveling members which travel in such a manner as to form conveying areas for conveying a stuffed casing formed by filling a casing with a filling for sausages or the like and a series of pairs of pincher members attached at predetermined intervals to the pair of endlessly traveling members in such a manner as to form pairs in face-to-face relation and adapted to cooperate with each other, so as to consecutively form constricted portions by constricting the stuffed casing by means of the pairs of pincher members opposing each other in the conveying areas during the conveyance of the stuffed casing, the apparatus comprising: a cutting device for cutting the constricted portion by applying laser light or microwaves to the constricted portion in the conveying areas so as to cut the constricted portion.

In the above-described aspects of the present invention, if the apparatus is further provided with a stuffing tube for stuffing the casing with the filling for sausages or the like, the stuffed casing which is discharged from the stuffing tube can be conveyed by the pair of endlessly traveling members.

Further, in the above-described aspects of the present invention, if the apparatus is further provided with rotation imparting means for rotating the stuffed casing, it is possible to impart twists to the constricted portion.

Various forms can be adopted for the pincher members.

First, an arrangement may be provided such that a squeezing surface of one pincher member of each of the pairs of opposing pincher members with respect to the stuffed casing which rotates is formed in a projecting shape, and a squeezing surface of another pincher member has a recessed shape for fitting to the projecting shape. Secondly, an arrangement may be provided such that the pairs of opposing pincher members are attached to the endlessly traveling members at asymmetrical positions with respect to a center line of a traveling path of the casing, and a trailing surface of a leading pincher member of each of the pairs of opposing pincher members and a leading surface of a trailing pincher member are adapted to face each other in the conveying areas of the endlessly traveling members.

Thirdly, in the first and third aspects of the present invention, an arrangement may be provided such that each pincher member of each of the pairs of opposing pincher members has a recessed portion for forming the stuffed casing into a link, and the pairs of pincher members are attached to the endlessly traveling members such that the recessed portions intersect with each other in the conveying arenas.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the cutting device may preferably include a belt member which travels in the conveying areas at the same speed as a speed of the endlessly traveling members and one of a laser-light applying device and a microwave-applying device which is disposed on a side of the belt member which is opposite to a side thereof where the stuffed casing is located, the belt member having collimation holes formed at positions corresponding to the pincher members to allow the laser light or the microwaves to pass therethrough.

Further, in the above-described aspects of the present invention, the apparatus may be further provided with casing supplying means for introducing the casing to a stuffing position, the stuffing tube being adapted to advance into the casing positioned at the stuffing position so as to permit the stuffing of the casing with the filling.

In the above-described first to third aspects of the present invention, the pincher members are attached to each of the pair of endlessly traveling members at predetermined positions in the traveling direction, as the pincher members approach the conveying areas of the endlessly traveling members, the opposing pincher members approach each other, and when they enter the conveying areas, the opposing pinchers squeeze the stuffed casing, thereby forming a constricted portion. Although the pincher members move together with the endlessly traveling members, the pincher members do not undergo relative movement with respect to the endlessly traveling members.

In the first aspect of the present invention, at least one pincher member of at least one of the pairs of pinchers which cooperate with each other is provided with a blade member, and when a link is formed, the blade member is actuated to cut the stuffed casing at the constricted portion. The timing at which the blade member is actuated can be set by providing, for example, a cam or the like for actuating the blade member at a predetermined position.

In the second aspect of the present invention, when a link is formed, a pincher member constituted by an opening/closing member undergoes a closing action, so that the constricted portion is cut by the opening/closing member.

In the third aspect of the present invention, instead of using the blade member used in the first aspect of the invention or the opening/closing member used in the second aspect of the invention, laser light or microwaves are applied to the constricted portion in the conveying areas, so that the constricted portion is cut by the energy of the laser light or microwaves.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a rotation imparting means and a linking/cutting device adopted in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III III in Fig. 2 with some parts omitted; Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a blade member and a movable member for holding the same; Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a cam portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a diagram, as viewed from a stuffed-casing conveying direction, of holding pieces of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;; Fig. 7 is a plan view, partly in section, illustrating a state of movement of pincher members of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 in the vicinity of an entrance of conveying areas; Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the pincher members and a blade member held by a movable member in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, as seen from the stuffed-casing conveying direction with a cover portion removed; Fig. 9 is a diagram in which a pusher means is adopted instead of the cam portion serving as a member for driving the movable member for holding the blade member in Fig. 8, and a modification of the other pincher member is adopted; Fig. 10 is a diagram of Fig. 9, as viewed from a direction opposite to the conveying direction; Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of Fig. 10;; Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the pincher member, as viewed from the stuffed-casing conveying direction; Fig. 13 is a plan view, partly in section, illustrating a state of movement of pincher members of the apparatus shown in Fig. 12 in the vicinity of the entrance of the conveying areas; Fig. 14 is a diagram, partly in section, illustrating other modifications of the movable member and the pusher means for driving the same; Fig. 15 is a plan view of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating still another modification of the pincher member, as viewed from the stuffed-casing conveying direction; Fig. 17 is a side-elevational view, partly in section, with the other pincher member in Fig. 16 removed; Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of the other pincher member shown in Fig. 16;; Fig. 19 is a diagram, as viewed from the stuffed-casing conveying direction, illustrating a linking/cutting device adopting pincher members adapted to undergo opening and closing action in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 20 is a plan view, partly in section, of Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is a diagram of the apparatus shown in Fig. 19 at the time of cutting; Fig. 22 is a diagram, as viewed from the stuffed-casing conveying direction, illustrating a modification of the pincher member usable in the apparatus shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 23 is a plan view, partly in section, of Fig. 22; Fig. 24 is a perspective view illustrating an overall apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like which is not provided with a stuffing device, in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention;; Fig. 25 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the present invention in which a device using laser light or microwaves is used as a cutting device; and Fig. 26 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 25.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the accompanying drawings, a description will be given of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for manufacturing sausages or the like in which a linking/cutting device is adopted in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 1 for manufacturing sausages or the like has a stuffing device 2 and a linking/cutting device 3 on an upper surface thereof.

The stuffing device 2 includes a casing supplying means 4 in which shirred casings S, each formed into a rod-like shape by compressing an elongated straight casing with a shirr in the longitudinal direction thereof, are stored and are supplied to a stuffing tube one by one; a stuffing tube 5 which advances into the shirred casing S; a pump 6 for feeding under pressure a filling for sausages or the like into the stuffing tube 5; and a rotation imparting means 7 for rotating a stuffed casing S1 which is formed as the casing is stuffed with the filling and its shirr is stretched. In the present invention, such a stuffing device 2 itself is not limited to this type. In other words, the stuffing device is sufficient insofar as it is capable of allowing the filling to be stuffed into the shirred casing S from the stuffing tube 5, thereby forming the stuffed casing S1.

As shown in detail in Fig. 2, the linking/cutting device 3, which constitutes a characteristic portion of the present invention, is provided with a pair of chains 12 and 13, i.e., endlessly traveling members, which are supported by a base plate 11 provided on an upper surface of the stuffing device 2. In the present invention, the endlessly traveling members are not limited to the chains, and it is possible to use wrapping connectors, such as belts and ropes. The pair of chains 12 and 13 are trained between a pair of sprockets 14A and between a pair of sprockets 14B, respectively.The pair of chains 12 and 13 are rotatively driven by a gear box 11A provided on the base plate 11, and travel in the direction of arrow A in such a manner as to depict elongated circles in a plane parallel with the base plate 11, thereby forming conveying areas 12A and 13A where they travel adjacent to and parallel with each other.

Plate-shaped holding pieces 15 which project outwardly are attached to the chains 12 and 13 at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction of the chains 12 and 13. A V-notch is formed in each of the holding pieces 15 such that when the holding pieces 15 are located in the conveying areas 12A and 13A, the V-notches are opposed to each other, and the outer periphery of the stuffed casing S1 being discharged from the stuffing tube 5 can be suitably held at the V-notches from both sides of the stuffed casing S1. These holding notches are not limited to the V shape, and a U shape and other suitable configurations may be used.

In order to form constricted portions in the stuffed casing S1 at predetermined intervals so as to form links, pincher members 16 and 17 are attached to outer sides of the chains 12 and 13 by means of screws 16D and 17A at intervals corresponding to the predetermined intervals in such a manner as to project from the chains 12 and 13.

The pincher members 16 and 17 are attached to the chains 12 and 13 at the same intervals, and are synchronously made to travel so as to be brought to the same position in the traveling direction in the conveying areas 12A and 13A.

As shown in Fig. 3, a V-shaped constricting notch 116A is formed in each of the plate-shaped pincher members 16 attached to one chain 12. Each of the pincher members 17 attached to the other chain 13 has a projecting V shape for corresponding to the V-shaped constricting notch 116A and forming a gap 18 with respect to the constricting notch 116A when the pincher member 16 is located in the same position as that of the pincher member 17 in the traveling direction in the conveying area 12A. As such, the pincher members 16 and 17 form squeezing surfaces having a chevron shape.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 8, each of the pincher members 16 attached to one chain 12 is constituted by a proximal portion 16A and a cover portion 16B, and an accommodating portion 22 for a movable member 19 for holding a blade member 20 is provided in the proximal portion 16A. The movable member 19 is attached in such a manner as to be rotatable about a pin 21 in a plane parallel with the surface of the pincher member 16. The cover portion 16B is attached to the proximal portion 16A by means of screws 16C so as to make the blade member 20 and the movable member 19 rotatable as an integral unit. A screw member 24 for rotatably supporting a barrel-shaped roller 23 serving as a cam follower is screwed to a lower portion of the movable member 19.

As also shown in Fig. 5, a guiding cam portion 25 is provided on the base plate 11 so as to guide the roller 23 serving as the cam follower. The cam portion 25 has such a shape as to rotate the movable member 19 by guiding the roller 23 so that the roller 23 actuates the blade member 20 in a downstream region R of the conveying area 12A in order to cut the constricted portion.

The rotation imparting means 7 disposed at a position upstream of the linking/cutting device 3 in the abovedescribed embodiment has a toothed rotating member 32 having a hollow cylindrical shape and supported rotatably by a bearing 31A in a housing 31, as shown in Fig. 2. A hollow cylindrical member 33, in which a plurality of grooves 33A in the manner of splines extending in the axial direction are formed on an inner surface thereof, is fitted in a central hole of the toothed rotating member. The toothed rotating member 32 is driven by a toothed belt 32A. A distal end portion of the stuffing tube 5 is inserted up to an intermediate portion of the hollow cylindrical member 33.

The stuffing tube 5 is inserted in the shirred casing S and supports the same. A tapered inside-diameter portion of the hollow cylindrical member 33 on the inlet side thereof exhibits resistance to the shirred casing S, such that when a filling is injected into the shirred casing S from the pump means 6, and the leading end of the shirred casing is drawn out on the linking/cutting device 3 side, the wall of the shirred casing S is stretched, and the shirred casing is formed into the shape of a straight tube.

In the above-described apparatus of this embodiment, sausages or the like are manufactured in the following procedure.

(1) One of the plurality of shirred casings S which are stocked in a hopper 4A of the casing supplying means 4 is taken out from a lower side of the hopper 4A, and the shirred casing S is brought into alignment with the axis of the stuffing tube 5 which is retracted on the left-hand side by a casing feeder 4B. Subsequently, the stuffing tube 5 advances up to a position where the stuffing tube 5 is inserted in the shirred casing S. The casing supplying means 4 in this embodiment is the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 26961/1990.

(2) Since the filling is injected into the casing S from the pump 6 via the stuffing tube 5, the leading end portion of the casing advances while stretching the shirr and forming the stuffed casing S1.

(3) The stuffed casing S1 advances into the conveying areas 12A and 13A of the pair of endless chains 12 and 13 which travel in the direction of arrow A (see Fig. 2), and is conveyed in the downstream direction while its sides are being restricted by the V-shaped holding notches 15A of the series of holding pieces 15 (see Fig. 6). Accordingly, the diameter of the stuffed casing S1 is maintained to a predetermined diameter during conveyance.

(4) As the chains 12 and 13 travel and when the pincher members 16 and 17 move in the direction of arrow B and approach the conveying areas 12A and 13A, as shown in Fig. 7 which shows the state of movement of the individual pincher members 16 and 17, the distance between the pincher members 16 and 17 becomes narrow. When the pincher members 16 and 17 reaches the conveying areas, the pincher members 16 and 17 squeeze the stuffed casing S1 at the gap 18 shown in Fig.

3. Meanwhile, in the rotation imparting means 7 shown in Fig. 2, the hollow cylindrical member 33 is rotating, and the stuffed casing S1 is caught by its splined inner surface, and is rotated thereby. The rotation imparting means 7 in this embodiment is the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 286035/1990. Accordingly, since the stuffed casing S1 in the state of being squeezed and held by the pincher members 16 and 17 is rotated by the hollow cylindrical member 33 on the upstream side, the stuffed casing S1 is twisted at the position of the pincher members 16 and 17, so that a constricted portion S2 is formed (see Fig. 7). In the present invention, the rotation imparting means 7 is not limited to this type.For example, the rotation imparting means 7 may be replaced by a twisting and stuffing tube, a braking roller, and a ring which are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.

101577/1974. In addition, the rotation imparting means 7 may be replaced by a rotating stuffing tube and a paddle attached to the stuffing tube, which are disclosed in U.S.

Pat. No. 4,671,042. In other words, the rotation imparting means is sufficient insofar as it is capable of rotatively driving the stuffed casing.

At this time, the roller 23 serving as the cam follower is located outside the downstream region R of the cam portion 25, and the blade member 20 is in a substantially upright state as shown in Fig. 3, and a blade portion 20A is in a standby position in which it is spaced apart from the constricted portion S2.

(5) When the stuffed casing S1 in which the constricted portion has been formed in step (4) above reaches the downstream region R of the conveying regions 12A and 13A, the roller 23 is drawn toward the inner side of the traveling path of the chain 12 in the downstream region R, as shown in Fig. 5. Therefore, the movable member 19 rotates clockwise about the pin 21 in Fig. 8, and the blade portion 20A of the blade member 20 cuts the constricted portion S2 (Fig. 8 shows a state after cutting). A link SL of individual sausages separated by being cut at the constricted portion S2 drops and is discharged.

(6) Since the roller 23 is guided again by the guide 25 outside the downstream region R (see Fig. 5), the blade member 20 returns to the standby position shown in Fig. 3 and travels in a circulating manner.

In this embodiment, the operation of the blade member 20 is possible without using the cam mechanism shown in Figs. 3 to 5. For example, an arrangement may be provided as shown in Fig. 9 in which a pusher means 41 is provided on the base plate 11, and when the blade member 20 has reached a predetermined position in conjunction with the traveling of the chain 12, a pusher member 41A of the pusher means 41 projects to push a bottom portion (spherical portion) 19B of the movable member 19 for holding the blade member 20, thereby rotating the movable member 19 about a pin 42 and cutting the constricted portion S2 by the blade portion 20A of the blade member 20. Another pincher member 170 is formed with the same thickness as that of the pincher member 16, and has a space 170A for allowing the operation of the blade member 20.

In this embodiment, it is preferable to adopt an urging member so as to keep the blade member 20 in its standby position prior to cutting the constricted portion. For example, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a torsion coil spring 43 is fitted over the pin 42 for rotatably supporting the movable member 19 which holds the blade member 20, and one end 43A thereof is retained by the movable member 19, and another end 43B thereof is retained by the pin 42 side, so as to urge the blade member 20 to be kept at its standby position shown in Fig. 10.

Next, another possible form of the pincher member is shown in Figs. 12 and 13. This example is characterized in that both plate-shaped pincher members 45 and 46 are provided with V-shaped notches 45A and 46A, respectively, and a phase difference exists in the conveying direction at the respective positions of attaching portions 45B and 46B provided on the pincher members 45 and 46 for attachment to the chains 12 and 13.That is, the attaching portions 45A and 46B are attached to the chains 12 and 13, respectively, such that the attaching portion 45B of the leading pincher member 45 advances in the conveying area ahead of the attaching portion 46B of the trailing pincher member 46, and such that the pincher member 45 and the pincher member 46 are brought into contact with each other at an intermediate point of the center-to-center distance between chain links 12a and 13a to which the attaching portions 45A and 46B are respectively fixed. Because of such an arrangement, the leading pincher member 45 and the trailing pincher member 46 which move toward the conveying area move without interfering with each other, and after entering the conveying areas, the two pincher members 45 and 46 are brought into contact with each other (see respective positions (a), (b), (c), and (d) of movement in Fig. 13).

The trailing-side surface of the pincher member 45 and the leading-side surface of the pincher member 46 may be located at opposing positions with an appropriate gap therebetween without coming into contact with each other.

At the point of time of contact, a narrow space K sufficient to form a constricted portion in the stuffed casing S1 is left at the bottom portions of the notches 45A and 46A of the two pincher members 45 and 46. A blade member 47 having a pin 47A is attached to one pincher member 45 in such a manner as to be rotatable about the pin 47A, and that blade member 47 is covered by the other pincher member 46 which comes into contact therewith after entering the conveying area. In this arrangement, the thickness of the pincher member can be made small, but the pincher member 45 may be separately provided with a cover portion to cover the blade member 47 in the same way as the pincher member 16 already described. The blade member 47 is adapted to be actuated at a predetermined timing by the action of the cam portion 25.

The advantage of using such pincher members 45 and 46 lies in that the constricted portion can be formed in the stuffed casing S1 even if the rotation imparting means 7 shown in Fig. 1 is not provided. That is, in the case of the pair of pincher members 16 and 17 shown in Fig. 3, a constricted portion having a chevron-shaped cross section is formed in the stuffed casing S1, and the formation of the constricted portion is completed only after the stuffed casing S1 is twisted by the rotation imparting means 7 from behind. In the modification shown in Figs. 12 and 13, however, the pincher members 45 and 46 squeeze the stuffed casing into the spot-like space K at the bottom portions of the notches, and the constricted portion is formed by this squeezing action alone.

Figs. 14 and 15 show another modification which is provided with another blade member and a driving mechanism for driving the same, which are adopted for the pincher members having V-shaped notches similar to those of the pincher members 45 and 46 shown in Figs. 12 and 13. In this example, a guide portion 48 extends outwardly from an attaching portion 450A for attachment to one pincher member 450, and a compression coil spring 49 is fitted to an outer surface of the guide portion 48. A guide surface is formed on the inner side of the guide portion 48, and a movable member 50 for holding the blade member 20 is linearly guided by the guide surface.A semispherical pushing portion 51 is attached to the movable member 50, and the pusher member 41A of the pusher means 41 provided on the substrate 11 presses the pushing portion 51 against the compression coil spring 49 at a predetermined timing to push out the blade member 20 toward the constricted portion S2, thereby cutting the constricted portion S2.

Next, Figs. 16 and 17 show still another modification which is characterized in that a blade member is provided on the pincher member of a linking device which is not provided with a phase difference at the position where the pincher member having a V-shaped notch is attached to the chain. In this example, V-shaped notches 55C and 56A are formed on a pair of plate-shaped pincher members 55 and 56, respectively, so that the pincher members 55 and 56 are attached to the chains 12 and 13, respectively, in such a manner as to intersect with each other at the notches 55C and 56A so as not to be come into contact with each other.

The other pincher member 56 is twisted at the position of the bottom portion of the notch (see Fig. 18), such that when the other pincher member 56 intersects with one pincher member 55, a narrow space 57 is formed at the bottom portions of the notches. One pincher member 55 is similar to the first example, and is comprised of a proximal portion 55A and a cover portion 55B, the movable member 19 and the blade member 20 being provided on the proximal portion 55A in such a manner as to be rotatable about the pin 21. A pusher means 58 for actuating the same is provided on the base plate 11. A rod 58A of the pusher means 58 is provided with a U-shaped push-pull member 58B which fits in the bottom portion 19B of the movable member 19, and the pushpull member 58B drives the movable member 19 to left and right in correspondence with the extending and retracting action of the rod 58A.In the other pincher member 56, an escape notch 56B is formed in the bottom portion of the notch 56A to ensure the operation of the blade member 20 within this range.

Next, an example in which one of the pair of pincher members undergoes an opening/closing action is shown as another embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in Figs. 19 and 20, one pincher member 60 has two fanshaped members supported at their proximal portions by a pin 61, attached to an upright portion 63A of a chain-attaching portion 63, in such a manner as to be capable of opening and closing in the manner of butterfly wings about the pin 61.

Normally, a V-shaped notch 62 is formed by opposing edges of the two members. Further, the bottom portion of the notch 62 is provided with a deep notch portion, and a blade portion 62A is formed therein. A guide portion 64 extends outwardly from the chain-attaching portion 63, and a movable member 65 is guided in the guide portion 64 in such a manner as to be linearly movable. A semispherical pushing portion 65A is attached to an outwardly extending portion of the movable member 65. The movable member 65 and the two fanshaped members are connected to each other in such a manner as to undergo relative rotation by means of arcuate connecting members 66, respectively.

A compression coil spring 67 is disposed between the guide portion 64 and the pushing portion 65A of the movable member 65 so as to outwardly urge the movable member 65.

The already-described pusher means 41 is disposed on the base plate 11, and the pusher member 42 is adapted to press the pushing portion 65A at a predetermined timing.

Incidentally, the other pincher member 68 is provided with a V-shaped notch 68A in the same way as the pincher member not provided with the aforementioned blade member.

In the modification having the above-described arrangement, when the pincher members 60 and 68 have entered the conveying areas of the chains, the stuffed casing Si is squeezed by the notch 68A of the pincher member 68 and the V-shaped notch 62 of the pincher member 60 to form the constricted portion S2. When the pincher members have advanced further and reached the downstream region R in the conveying areas1 the pusher means 41 is actuated to move the movable member 65 inwardly, so as to cause the pincher member 60 to rotate about the pin 61 to be closed, thereby cutting the constricted portion S2 by the blade portion 62 of the pincher member (see Fig. 21). Incidentally, the blade portion 62A at the deep notch portion may be omitted by providing the blade portion at the notch 62.

Although an example has been described in which the other pincher member 68 which cooperates with one pincher member 60 shown in Figs. 19 to 21 is provided with the Vshaped notch 68A, and the stuffed casing S1 is squeezed by the notch 68A and the notch 62 of one pincher member 60 to form the constricted portion, the other pincher member 17 may be formed as an angularly projecting member which fits to the V-shaped notch 62 of one pincher member 60, as shown in Figs. 22 to 23. In this case, if only the two pincher members 60 and 17 are used, the stuffed casing S1 is merely squeezed flatly in the chevron shape, so that the stuffed casing needs to be rotated by the rotation imparting means in order to form the constricted portion.

The present invention is not limited to the arrangement in which only one pincher member is constituted by an opening/closing member which is capable of opening and closing. For example, the other pincher member 68 in Figs.

19 to 21 and the other pincher member 17 in Figs. 22 and 23 may be replaced by the pincher members 60 which are capable of opening and closing, respectively. In this arrangement, the constricted portion S2 can be simultaneously cut at two positions, so that the length of the constricted portion of the link SL becomes short.

The present invention is not limited to the case where the stuffing device 2 shown in Fig. 1 is used. As shown in Fig. 24 which illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention, a straight stuffed casing which has been formed by a stuffing apparatus provided separately, such as the one shown in Fig. 24, may be introduced to the apparatus of the present invention, and the formation of links and the cutting of the constricted portions may be carried out there.

The linking/cutting device 3 of the apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like shown in Fig. 24 has pincher members having V-shaped notches, and adopts the pusher means 58 for actuating the blades for cutting. In addition, a guide member 70 having the shape of a half-split truncated cone is provided for introducing the stuffed casing S1 into the conveying areas of the pair of chains.

One pincher member 69 has a proximal portion 69A and a cover portion 69B, and differs from the pincher member 45 shown in Fig. 13 in that the cover portion 69B is used, and the other pincher member 46 is the same as the one shown in Fig. 13 The pincher members which can be adopted in the apparatus of this embodiment which is not connected to the stuffing device 2 are not limited to those already described. For example, it is possible to adopt the pincher members shown in Figs. 12 to 21.

In the present invention, the constricted portion formed in the stuffed casing may be cut by other methods without using the blade members and the pincher members already described.

A further embodiment shown in Figs. 25 and 26 shows an example in which laser light or microwaves are applied to the constricted portion so as to cut the same.

In this embodiment, a box 81 is provided in such a manner as to surround a linking/cutting device 80 together with the base plate 11. The linking/cutting device 80 has a linking device 82 and a cutting device 83. In the linking device 82, the chains 12 and 13, such as those shown in Fig.

13, are provided with the series of plate-shaped holding pieces 15 in which V-shaped notches for holding the stuffed casing are formed, as well as the pincher members 45 and 46 for forming the constricted portions in the stuffed casing at predetermined intervals. As compared to the linking device shown in Fig. 13, the linking device 82 has the same arrangement as that of the linking device shown in Fig. 13 except that the pincher member 45 is not provided with the blade member. In this embodiment, however, the linking device is not limited to the type shown in Fig. 13, and any other types described above may be adopted. In that case, however, the blade member is not required. The connection of the apparatus of this embodiment to the stuffing device 2 may be selected as necessary.

In this embodiment, forward and rearward surfaces of the box 81 are provided with hole portions 81A and 81B, respectively, for allowing the stuffed casing S1 and the links SL of sausages or the like cut after linking to pass therethrough.

As shown in Fig. 26, the cutting device 83 is disposed in the box 81 is such a manner as to be located above the linking device 82. The cutting device 83 is comprised of an endless belt member 84 and a laser-light emitting device or microwave emitting device 85. The laser-light emitting device or the microwave emitting device 85 emits laser light or microwaves toward the stuffed casing being conveyed by the conveying portions, and its energy is set to a value sufficient to cut the constricted portion of the stuffed casing.

The belt member 84 travels at the same speed as the speed of the conveying portions of the chains 12 and 13, and collimation holes 84A are formed in the belt member 84 at positions aligned with the positions of the pincher members 45 and 46 of the conveying portions. The arrangement provided is such that the laser light or microwaves which have passed through the collimation hole 84 are applied to only the constricted portion S2 of the stuffed casing in the conveying portions.

Thus, in this embodiment, the constricted portion is cut reliably by the laser light or microwaves.

In the present invention, not all the links in the chain form may be cut individually, and the links may be cut for each desired number of links, e.g., in units of two links. In this case, in the apparatus of the abovedescribed embodiments, the pair of pincher members having a blade member and the pair of pincher members not having a blade member may be attached alternately to the endlessly traveling members, or the operation of the pusher means 41 serving as the driving means may be controlled such that the opening/closing members are actuated once for every two links. Further, the collimation holes may be formed in the endless belt member so as to apply the laser light or microwaves for every two links.

As described above, in the present invention, conveying areas extending at a predetermined interval therebetween are provided for the pair of endlessly traveling members, the pincher members are provided at predetermined intervals on the endlessly traveling members in such a manner as to form pairs so as to cooperate with each other, and the blade members for cutting are provided on the pincher members, or the pincher members themselves are provided with the cutting function. Accordingly, when the stuffed casing is formed into links, there is no need for the pair of pincher members to undergo relative movement with respect to the endlessly traveling members, respectively. Hence, the structure becomes simplified, and the separation of links in highspeed operation becomes possible.

In addition, if the stuffed casing is formed into links while the stuffed casing is being formed by stuffing the casing with a filling, it is possible to form links having twisted constricted portions, so that the accuracy of the fixed amount is high, and the constricted portions are difficult to open up at the time of cutting.

Furthermore, if the pusher means for instantly actuating the blade member is used, the length of conveying areas of the apparatus can be made short, with the result that a compact apparatus can be realized.

Additionally, if a cutting device using laser light or microwaves is adopted instead of the aforementioned blade members and pinchers, the movable portions are eliminated by that portion, with the result that the apparatus is more suitable for high-speed operations, and noise can be reduced.

If the casing supplying means and the stuffing tube which is advanced into the casing supplied by the casing supplying means are adopted, it is possible to obtain a system for automatically manufacturing uncooked sausages or the like which does not require manpower.

Claims (11)

1. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like including a pair of endlessly traveling members which travel in such a manner as to form conveying areas for conveying a stuffed casing formed by filling a casing with a filling for sausages or the like and a series of pairs of pincher members attached at predetermined intervals to said pair of endlessly traveling members in such a manner as to form pairs in face-to-face relation and adapted to cooperate with each other, so as to consecutively form constricted portions by constricting the stuffed casing by means of said pairs of pincher members opposing each other in the conveying areas during the conveyance of the stuffed casing, said apparatus comprising: a blade member provided on at least one pincher member of at least one of said pairs of opposing pincher members in such a manner as to be actuatable;and driving means for actuating said blade member to cut the constricted portion constricted by said pair of pincher members, at a predetermined position in a conveying direction.

2. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like including a pair of endlessly traveling members which travel in such a manner as to form conveying areas for conveying a stuffed casing formed by filling a casing with a filling for sausages or the like and a series of pairs of pincher members attached at predetermined intervals to said pair of endlessly traveling members in such a manner as to form pairs in face-to-face relation and adapted to cooperate with each other, so as to consecutively form constricted portions by constricting the stuffed casing by means of said pairs of pincher members opposing each other in the conveying areas during the conveyance of the stuffed casing, said apparatus comprising:: an opening/closing member which constitutes at least one pincher member of at least one of said pairs of opposing pincher members and which is capable of opening and closing, opposing edge portions of said opening/closing member having a recessed portion for forming the constricted portion in the stuffed casing; and driving means for actuating said opening/closing member to cut the constricted portion constricted by said pair of pincher members, at a predetermined position in a conveying direction.

3. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like including a pair of endlessly traveling members which travel in such a manner as to form conveying areas for conveying a stuffed casing formed by filling a casing with a filling for sausages or the like and a series of pairs of pincher members attached at predetermined intervals to said pair of endlessly traveling members in such a manner as to form pairs in face-to-face relation and adapted to cooperate with each other, so as to consecutively form constricted portions by constricting the stuffed casing by means of said pairs of pincher members opposing each other in the conveying areas during the conveyance of the stuffed casing, said apparatus comprising:: a cutting device for cutting the constricted portion by applying laser light or microwaves to the constricted portion in the conveying areas so as to cut the constricted portion.

4. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a stuffing tube for stuffing the casing with the filling for sausages or the like.

5. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like according to Claim 4, further comprising: rotation imparting means for rotating the stuffed casing.

6. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like according to Claim 5, wherein a squeezing surface of one pincher member of each of said pairs of opposing pincher members with respect to the stuffed casing which rotates is formed in a projecting shape, and a squeezing surface of another pincher member has a recessed shape for fitting to the projecting shape.

7. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said pairs of opposing pincher members are attached to said endlessly traveling members at asymmetrical positions with respect to a center line of a traveling path of the casing, and a trailing surface of a leading pincher member of each of said pairs of opposing pincher members and a leading surface of a trailing pincher member are adapted to face each other in the conveying areas of said endlessly traveling members.

8. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like according to Claim 1 or 3, wherein each pincher member of each of said pairs of opposing pincher members has a recessed portion for forming the stuffed casing into a link, and said pairs of pincher members are attached to said endlessly traveling members such that the recessed portions intersect with each other in the conveying areas.

9. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like according to Claim 4, further comprising: casing supplying means for introducing the casing to a stuffing position, said stuffing tube being adapted to advance into the casing positioned at the stuffing position so as to permit the stuffing of the casing with the filling.

10. An apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like according to Claim 3, wherein said cutting device includes a belt member which travels in the conveying areas at the same speed as a speed of said endlessly traveling members and one of a laser-light applying device and a microwave-applying device which is disposed on a side of said belt member which is opposite to a side thereof where the stuffed casing is located, said belt member having collimation holes formed at positions corresponding to said pincher members to allow the laser light or the microwaves to pass therethrough.

11. Apparatus for manufacturing sausages or the like constructtl and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.