ITVI20120175A1 - BINDING MACHINE OR CLIPPER FOR BAG PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the Patent for Industrial Invention entitled â € œBINDING OR CLIPPING MACHINE FOR SAUSAGE PRODUCTSâ €

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the preparation of food products. In particular, the present invention relates to the preparation of bagged food products. More in detail, the present invention relates to a binding machine for preparing bagged food products based on meat, vegetables, fish and cheese such as salami, but also sausages, frankfurters, hunters, soy salamis and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

As is known, traditional sausage products such as cured meats and in particular sausages and hunters, are obtained by filling a tubular casing, called intestine, with a mixture containing animal meat mixed with salts and aromas. In particular, the gut can be of animal origin, but also synthetic, for example based on collagen. At regular intervals the casing filled with the mixture is constricted and in correspondence with these constrictions ligatures are applied, making one or more twine wraps around them. The result is therefore a chain of consecutive sausages connected to each other by these bottlenecks. At the time of sale and / or consumption, the sausages themselves can be permanently detached from each other by cutting the chain at the bottlenecks.

Over the years, to meet the needs of consumers, the producers of cured meats have turned to a production system that involves the creation of slightly elongated bottlenecks between two consecutive sausages, of the order of one, two or even more tens of millimeters. , according to requirements, with double ligatures made at both ends of the bottlenecks themselves. It has in fact been verified that the elongated bottlenecks facilitate the separation operations of two consecutive sausages; in fact, cutting an elongated bottleneck (and therefore between two adjacent slurs) does not necessarily involve cutting the slur as it happened in the case of simple chokes. On the contrary, the elongated choke can be cut while leaving the ligatures at both ends of the same intact. Furthermore, the risk is avoided that the part of the casing near the ends of the sausages is damaged during the separation operations of two consecutive sausages. The result is therefore an evident advantage for the preservation and aging of the sausages once separated, the quality of which could instead be compromised if the bindings were cut and / or removed or untied or if the casing was opened or damaged.

A further advantage offered by the elongated bottlenecks lies in the fact that the chains comprising a predetermined number of sausages, generally from 5 to 10 but also up to 20 and more, can be handled better by the operators. For example, sausage chains can be rolled up on themselves without running the risk that the sausages themselves are crushed at the ends, and therefore their quality is compromised. Furthermore, direct contact between two consecutive sausages is avoided, thus guaranteeing optimal conservation and seasoning of the sausages themselves.

There is also the need to make sausage chains, in which the string that joins the bindings made at the two ends of each sausage (sausage, wÃ1⁄4rstel, salami, etc.), is not rolled around the sausage itself, but is stretched between the two ties in a substantially rectilinear way.

Finally, a request has emerged from the manufacturers of cured meats, that the casing or casing is adequately filled, so that the sausages are compact, consistent and free of voids or holes.

In the state of the art, automatic and / or semi-automatic binding machines are known for binding sausage products such as sausages and hunters capable of being fed with a continuous tubular casing filled with a meat-based dough and capable of carrying out rapidly in succession the operations of constricting the casing and making some twine wraps so as to divide the tubular casing into a chain of successive individual sausage products connected by an elongated constriction having the shape and size of a small stalk.

For example, European patent application EP 0 865 732 describes a tying machine comprising a conduit suitable for being fed with the filled envelope and a reel placed at the inlet end of said conduit. In particular, the coil is able to rotate around the duct so that each rotation performed by the coil corresponds to a winding made around the casing. Furthermore, the known binding machine comprises two pairs of pliers suitable for throttling the filled casing and arranged one upstream of the other in the direction of feeding of the casing itself. The upstream couple is fixed and is placed outside the duct while the downstream one is mobile and is placed inside the same.

During the operations, once a portion of the casing has been filled and introduced into the duct, both pairs of pliers are closed so as to create a first constriction. Subsequently, a first ligature is made around the constriction between the two pairs of pliers. As will become clear later, the position of this first tie corresponds to the downstream end, in the feed direction, of the elongated constriction that will be made. Then, while both pairs of pincers are kept closed, the mobile pair is translated in the feed direction so as to drag the sausage with it, forcing at the same time a portion of casing to pass through the fixed pair of closed pincers. In this way the elongated constriction is achieved; in fact, the distance along which the movable pair of grippers is translated corresponds to the desired length for the elongated constriction. Finally, a second binding is made near the fixed pair of pliers, that is, at the upstream end of the constriction created.

The binding machine described above has several disadvantages.

For example, the fact that two pairs of grippers are provided considerably complicates the general structure of the machine. The machine is therefore difficult to manufacture and subject to breakdowns and its maintenance is often difficult and laborious.

Furthermore, the pair of pliers placed inside the feeding duct can hinder the advancement of the sausages inside the duct itself with the risk that the tubular casing or casing is broken or damaged.

A second binding machine of the same type as the one described above is described in European patent application EP 00 109 962 filed in the name of the owner of the present application. In particular, said second machine is equipped with a single pair of grippers which can be translated together with the reel along the feeding direction of the filled envelope. A first tying is made by closing the pair of pliers so as to choke the gut and forming one or more twine wraps near the first choke. Subsequently, with the pincers in the closed position, the pincers themselves and the reel are moved back in the feed direction by a predetermined distance so as to remove a predefined amount of casing from the stuffing tube of the stuffing machine. The grippers are then reopened and returned to their initial position together with the coil. Finally, the pliers are closed again so as to throttle the casing again and a second binding is made near the new bottleneck.

Even this second machine is not without its drawbacks. For example, the fact that the grippers and the reel are translated integrally slows down the binding operations. In fact, in the case of this machine, the elongated constrictions are made by constricting the casing or casing in two positions placed at a distance corresponding to the desired length for the elongated constrictions.

Furthermore, the choke is not always empty but sometimes contains small quantities of dough. This is due in particular to the fact that the two subsequent bottlenecks are made on the at least partially filled casing.

A further disadvantage of known binding machines of the type described above lies in the fact that, during the binding operations, the sausages themselves tend to rotate around a longitudinal axis, substantially parallel to the direction along which the sausages are made to advance during the operations. . The rotation of the sausages therefore causes the partial rolling up of the string that joins the bindings at the two ends of each sausage, around the sausage itself. It follows therefore that sausage chains are difficult to handle; for example, the seasoning of sausages is difficult and scarcely automatable. Therefore, manual intervention by the operator is essential with a considerable increase in processing times and costs. There is also the risk that the casing or casing is damaged and / or cut by the string itself.

A further example of a binding machine for food products can be found in patent application EP 1 477 067 A1. The machine described in this document comprises advancement means suitable for advancing the bagged products in a predefined direction of advancement. In particular, the advancement means comprise a main body suitable for receiving the bagged products inside and comprising a first opening suitable for receiving the bagged products and a second opening suitable for allowing them to come out. The main body can be moved in the direction of advancement inside a secondary body and comprises gripping means suitable for alternatively exercising a grip on the bagged products so as to be able to drag the bagged products with it while it is moved in the predefined direction of advancement. . The gripping means comprise a body of elastic material such as rubber, resin or silicone suitable to be alternately inflated and deflated or filled with a liquid and emptied thereof.

The machine described in EP 1 477 067 A1 has a structure having a complex architecture and therefore involving high manufacturing and maintenance costs. Furthermore, the gripping means can damage the casing and therefore compromise the quality of the bagged products.

A further example of a binding machine is known from the Italian patent application VI2010A000277 filed in the name of the owner of the present application.

Said further tying machine has the particularity of comprising a feeding tube which can be moved along the feeding direction of the tying machine between a feeding position and a throttling position. In this way, the feed tube is translated and the sausages are filled downstream with respect to the throttling means, avoiding contact of the throttling means with the sausages and thus avoiding damage to the sausages themselves.

However, the tying machine of this type has the drawback that the retraction of the tube in the opposite direction to the feed direction is braked and / or slowed down by the mixture inside the tube which inevitably exerts friction on the inner wall of the tube itself. .

In consideration of the situation described above, it would be desirable to have a machine for preparing food products which would allow to overcome or at least limit the typical drawbacks of binding machines according to the state of the art. In particular, it would be desirable to have a binding machine for binding sausages which would allow to overcome the drawbacks encountered in the binding machines described above.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a binding machine for bagged products. In particular, the present invention is based on the inventive idea of providing the tying machine with a feed tube which comprises a downstream end portion in the feed direction movable along the feed direction of the tying machine between a feed position and a throttling position. In this way, the main feed tube is kept stationary, obviating the problems generated in the case of a movable tube by the friction exerted by the mixture; but the main fixed tube is alternately lengthened and shortened, which allows to carry out the filling of the sausages downstream with respect to the constriction means, avoiding the contact of the constriction means with the sausages and thus avoiding damage to the sausages themselves.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention as claimed in the main claim 1, a binding machine is provided for tying by means of a thread or twine, but also a clipping machine for applying staples or clips or similar clips, of bagged products to base of a dough, said binding or clipping machine comprising a feeding tube which defines a feeding direction and is adapted to allow the filling of a tubular casing with said dough; constriction means adapted to effect constrictions in said tubular casing; said feed tube comprising an outlet end portion movable along a direction substantially parallel to said feed direction between a feed position (A) in which at least a portion of said outlet end passes through said throttling means and a throttling position (B) in which said movable end of said feed tube is entirely placed upstream of said throttling means.

In this way, the tubular casing is filled and bottlenecks and ties are formed without having to move the main supply tube. This allows to reduce the probability of damaging the sausages and to improve the functionality of the binding machine.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention as claimed in claim 6, the binding or clipping machine further comprises thrust means which are alternately movable in the feeding direction and in the opposite direction so as to push said filled tubular casing during their motion into the feed direction.

In this way, once a first constriction has been made, by pushing the filled envelope forward, the effect of dragging the empty envelope through the closed constriction means by a section corresponding to the desired distance between the two constrictions at the ends of the section is obtained. of casing (peduncle) between two consecutive sausages.

In particular, said thrust means may comprise a through opening of such dimensions as to allow said empty or semi-filled tubular casing to pass through it and not to allow said filled tubular casing to pass through it.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a combined system for the production of bagged products is provided, comprising a machine for processing soft dough and a binding or clipping machine according to the present invention, said machine for processing soft pastes and said binding or clipping machine being able to be coupled.

Further embodiments of the present invention are defined in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the machine according to the present invention will become clearer from the following description exposed with reference to the attached figures, of particular embodiments of the machine, in which identical or corresponding parts of the machine itself are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular, in the figures:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a side view of a particular embodiment of the tying machine according to the present invention combined with a machine for processing soft dough;

Figure 2 schematically represents an enlarged side view of a particular embodiment of the tying machine according to the present invention;

figure 3 schematically represents a front view of the pliers of the tying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention in the open position; figure 4 schematically represents a front view of the pliers of the tying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention in the closed position; Figure 5 schematically represents a perspective view of the pincers of the tying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention and of a system of levers for operating said pliers;

Figure 6 schematically represents a top sectional view of the main component parts of the tying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention during a processing step;

Figures 7 and 7a schematically represent top section views of the main component parts of the tying machine according to a form of the present invention during a further processing step; Figures 8 and 8a schematically represent top section views of the main component parts of the tying machine according to a form of the present invention during a further processing step;

Figure 9 schematically represents a top sectional view of the main component parts of the tying machine according to a further form of the present invention during a processing step;

Figures 10 and 10a schematically represent top sectional views of the main component parts of the tying machine according to said further form of the present invention during a further processing step;

Figures 11 and 11a schematically represent top section views of the main component parts of the tying machine according to said further form of the present invention during a further processing step;

figure 12 schematically represents the pincers in the open position of the tying machine according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 schematically represents the grippers of Figure 12 in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

While the present invention will be clarified by means of a detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the figures, it is clear that the present invention is not limited to such particular embodiments but rather the particular embodiments described below and represented in the figures. clarify various aspects of the present invention, the purpose of which is defined by the claims.

Corresponding elements are indicated for simplicity in the figures with corresponding reference numbers.

Furthermore, in the context of the present invention, the term â € œfeed directionâ € means a direction followed by the dough in the system during processing. In other words, we mean the direction that the dough follows during the working process when it enters a certain part of the system and then exits it in order to move on to the next phase. The term â € œupstream in the feed directionâ € therefore means a position that precedes a second position along the path followed by the dough. In other words, a part of the tying machine placed upstream in the feed direction with respect to a second part, will be crossed by the dough before the second part. Similarly, the term "downstream in the feed direction" means a position following another position along the path followed by the dough. In other words, a part of the tying machine placed downstream in the feed direction with respect to a second part, will be crossed by the dough after said second part.

With reference to the attached figures, some illustrative embodiments of the binding or clipping machine for bagged products according to the present invention will be described below.

In Figure 1, the tying machine 100 is shown combined with a machine 200 for processing soft doughs (also called kneading machine), in the reciprocal position in which the tying machine 100 and the machine 200 for processing soft doughs are arranged during the sausage production operations. The machine 200 for processing soft pasta can be a machine of any type for processing a dough, for example a mixture based on animal meat, or on vegetables, soy, gluten or the like.

The dough worked in the machine 200 for the processing of soft pasta is sent out through the outlet 201 of the machine 200. The tying machine 100 is able to be coupled with the outlet 201 of the machine 200 in order to receive the processed dough enters the machine 200 for the processing of soft pastes. For example, the tying machine 100 can comprise connection means 103 (a conical fitting) suitable for allowing the connection between the feeding tube 105 of the tying machine 100 and the outlet 201 of the machine 200 for processing soft dough. For example, a threaded conical sleeve can be provided to engage with the outlet 201 of the machine 200.

The tying machine 100 comprises a feed tube 105 adapted to receive the worked dough emitted from the machine 200 and to emit it through an emission or exit end 105b of said feed tube 105. In particular, the feed tube 105 is arranged along a feeding direction which, in Figures 1 and 2, corresponds to the horizontal direction from right to left. The outlet end 105b of the feed tube 105 corresponds to the end of the feed tube 105 downstream in the feed direction. The supply tube 105 therefore extends between the conical inlet end 103 located upstream in the feed direction and the outlet end 105b downstream in the feed direction. Therefore, the soft doughs exiting from the outlet 201 of the machine 200 for processing soft doughs enter the feeding tube 105 of the tying machine 100 through the conical inlet end 103 and exit through the end of exit 105b.

A tubular casing 300 (Figure 2), for example a casing of animal origin, is slipped onto the feed tube 105 like a sock. Alternatively, depending on the type of sausages produced, a different casing or casing, for example synthetic, of the collagen-based type can be used. The tubular casing 300 is threaded like a sock in correspondence with the outlet end 105b of the feed tube 105 so as to be progressively filled when the dough exits from the feed tube 105 through the exit end 105b.

The machine 100 further comprises binding or stapling means 107 suitable for forming the ligatures of the filled tubular casing 300 or for applying staples or clips or similar components to said casing, as well as constricting means 114. The binding or stapling means or Clipping 107 and the throttling ones 114 are therefore positioned with respect to the supply tube 105 in such a way as to be able to receive the tubular casing 300 filled with dough or, in other words, so as to be fed with the tubular casing 300 filled . In particular, the tying means 107 or stapling and constricting 114 are positioned near the outlet end 105b of the feed tube 105 in such a way that the dough that comes out of the feed tube 105 fills the casing tubular 300 and allows to carry out the binding or stapling or clipping by means of the means 107. The tubular casing 300 is then progressively withdrawn from the feed tube 105 as the mixture exits from the end 105b of the feed tube, and the Sausage production operations continue until the tubular casing 300 is exhausted. Once the tubular casing 300 has been used up, the operations are suspended and a new tubular casing is inserted like a sock on the supply tube 105 in correspondence with the exit end 105b before resuming with sausage production operations.

The tying or clipping machine 100 shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2 comprises a frame suitable for housing and / or supporting the main components of the tying machine 100 itself. The frame 106, in fact, allows for example to support the tying means 107 or clipping and the constriction means 114, together with a power source 108 adapted to actuate the tying means 107 and / or the constriction 114 as well as other component parts. of the tying machine. The power source 108 could be for example an electric motor, a hydraulic motor or any other power source known to the man of the trade.

In the following, with particular reference to Figure 2, some details of the tying machine 100 according to the present invention will be described in detail.

Figure 2 shows for example in schematic form the throttling means 114 suitable for effecting throttling of the tubular casing 300. An example of throttling means 114 is represented by a pair of pliers 114a and 114b which will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5. A further example of throttling means is represented by a system of grippers 310 which will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 12 and 13.

In the following, the operation of the throttling means 114 according to the embodiment represented therein will be described with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5.

As shown in Figure 3, the constricting means 114 can comprise a pair of pliers 114a and 114b.

Furthermore, as shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5, the grippers 114a and 114b essentially consist of two metal plates connected integrally to rotatable rods 120a and 120b, respectively. Furthermore, the pliers 114a and 114b each have an opening 114a 'and 114b'. Said openings are both substantially in the shape of an eye or a drop, that is to say with a larger portion and a narrower portion communicating with each other. The pincer 114b is suitable for being rotated counterclockwise with respect to the figures by means of the rotatable rod 120b; vice versa, the gripper 114a is suitable for being rotated clockwise by means of the rotatable rod 120a. In particular, the grippers 114a and 114b can be rotated between two predetermined positions. In the position represented in Figure 3 (hereinafter also referred to as open position) the enlarged portions of the openings 114aâ € ™ and 114bâ € ™ are substantially aligned; in this way, both the tubular casing 300 and the feed tube 105 or, in any case, a portion thereof at the outlet end 105b, can be pushed through the openings 114aâ € ™ and 114bâ € ™ of the pincers 114a and 114b, respectively. On the contrary, in the position represented in Figure 4 (hereinafter also referred to as closed position) it is the restricted portions of the openings 114aâ € ™ and 114bâ € ™ that are aligned. In this way, the tubular casing 300 which passes through the openings of the pincers 114a and 114b is constricted between the pincers 114a and 114b.

The rotation of the pincers 1 14a and 1 14b, respectively clockwise and anticlockwise, can take place as explained with reference to figure 5.

As shown schematically in figure 5, an actuator 120e (for example a pneumatic actuator driven by a pump in turn driven by the power source 108) is connected integrally to a rotatable rod 120 by means of a connecting rod 120f . In particular, the actuator 120e comprises a rod or piston adapted to be actuated in the vertical direction. It will therefore be obvious to people in the trade that the actuation of the piston from the bottom upwards causes the rod 120 to rotate counterclockwise; vice versa, the actuation of the piston 120e from top to bottom causes the rod 120 to rotate clockwise. When the rod 120 is rotated counterclockwise, the lever 120d is moved from right to left in the diagram of figure 5. In this way, the rod 120b is also rotated counterclockwise and with it is rotated in the caliper 114b anticlockwise. At the same time, the system of levers 120c, which unlike the lever 120d is provided with a central joint 120câ € ™ is brought to close thus causing the rotation of the rod 120a, and with it of the caliper 114a, clockwise. Vice versa, the actuation of the actuator 120e from top to bottom in the diagram of figure 8 causes the clockwise rotation of the rod 120, the translation from left to right of the lever 120d and the opening of the system of levers 120c. As a result, the rod 120b and the gripper 114b are rotated clockwise while the rod 120a and the gripper 114a are rotated counterclockwise.

In the following, with reference to Figures 6, 7, 7a, 8 and 8a, further details will be described relating to the tying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention represented therein. For reasons of clarity of presentation. Figures 6, 7, 7a, 8 and 8a do not show the binding or clipping means. Also, in the case of these figures, the feed direction or direction corresponds to the left to right direction or direction. In particular, it is appreciated from the observation of the figures that the feed tube comprises a fixed main portion 105 which extends from the conical fitting 103 (connecting to the stuffing machine 200) upstream in the feed direction up to a fixed outlet end 105b downstream along the feed direction. Furthermore, the feed tube comprises a movable outlet end 105m engaged on the main portion 105 of the feed tube at its fixed outlet end 105b. In particular, the mobile outlet end 105m can be moved alternately from left to right and from right to left with respect to the figures (and therefore in the feeding direction and in the opposite direction), between an extended position shown in figure 6 and a rearward position. shown in Figures 7 and 7a. In the extended position, the movable end 105m therefore acts as an extension of the fixed main portion 105 of the feed tube, while in the rearward position the elongation of the fixed main portion 105 by the movable end 105m is absent or in any case negligible. Handling means 141 suitable for the purpose (for example pneumatic means equipped with an extensible and retractable two-way piston) are connected by means of connection 142 to the mobile end 105m so that by the extension of the piston 141 the end 105m will retract along the fixed portion in the opposite direction to the feeding direction 105 (from right to left in the figures), while by retracting the piston 141 the advancement of the end 105m will be obtained along the feeding direction (from left to right in the figures).

It is also worth specifying that the mobile end 105m comprises a through hole 121 with an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the main fixed portion 105 or in any case such as to allow the moving end 105m to slide back and forth on the fixed portion 105.

In the extended or advanced position of Figure 6, the mobile end 105m is at least partially disposed within the space defined by the throttling means 114 (in this case arranged in their open position of Figure 3), while in its rearward position of figure 7, the mobile end 105m is completely set back with respect to the throttling means and therefore outside them.

Among the other component parts of the machine, the figures show movable towing means 130 (which can be moved along the feeding direction and in the opposite direction between a backward position in Figure 6 and an advanced position in Figure 8) for moving the filled casing or bagged 500 in the feed direction during their motion in the feed direction itself (from left to right in the figures). In particular, said towing means 130 comprise a bushing 130 with a through opening 131 having a diameter substantially corresponding to the internal diameter of the movable end 105m, said through opening 131 being surrounded by a lowering which defines a concave surface 132 facing the feed direction. and therefore towards the filled or bagged casing 500. For example, the movement of the bushing 130 in the two directions (from left to right and from right to left with respect to the figures) could be obtained by means of handling means similar to the handling means 140 described previously for the handling of the mobile end 105m. The bushing 130 is in any case always positioned downstream with respect to the throttling means 114; only the distance between the bushing 130 and the throttling means 114 changes according to whether the bushing is in the rear position (and therefore closer to the throttling means) or in an advanced position (and therefore further away from the throttling means).

Finally, among the component parts of the machine 100 it is appropriate to mention braking means 150 arranged inside the movable end 105m. Said braking or slowing down means consist of an inflatable and deflatable chamber alternatively by means of a fluid (gas or liquid). By inflating the chamber, the pressure exerted by the same on the casing or casing arranged on the fixed end 105b of the main portion 105 of the feeding tube is increased; in this way, the wrapper is slowed down as it slips out of the main part of the feed tube during the outflow of the dough. On the contrary, by deflating the chamber 150, the pressure exerted on the casing 300 decreases, so that the casing 300 is more easily removed from the feeding tube during the outflow or emission of the mixture.

In the following, and always with reference to figures 6, 7, 7a, 8 and 8a, the processing steps of the machine according to the embodiment of the present invention represented therein will be clarified.

The first phase is that of extrusion or release of the dough and is performed with the machine in the configuration of figure 6, that is to say with the mobile end 105m in the advanced position, with the throttling means 114 (grippers) obviously in the position open of Figure 3, the pulling means 130 in the rearward position and the braking means 150 active on the casing 300 (inflated membrane). In this way, the wrapper 300 is filled and inflated downstream of both the constriction means 114 and the pulling means 130 and the sausage 500 then takes shape downstream of said constriction means 114 and the pulling means 130.

Once the quantity of dough foreseen for the production of a sausage of predefined dimensions and weight has been extruded or emitted, the configuration of the system is modified by deactivating the braking means 150 (deflating the membrane) and moving back the mobile end 105m in the opposite direction to the feeding direction until reaching the configuration of Figures 7 and 7a (movable end 105b in the rear position and towing means 130 in the rear position).

The next step is that of closing the throttling means by which the pliers 114a and 14b will be operated and rotated from the position of figure 3 to the closed position of figure 4, throttling the casing and creating a first throttling 501 (or rather , a first end of the final bottleneck that will be elongated). This step is then completed by making the first binding 502 or clipping of the constriction 501 by twisting some twine around the constriction or alternatively by applying a clip to the constriction itself (see in particular the detail of Figure 7a).

During the next step, with the throttling means (grippers) still in the closed position of Figure 4, the thrust means are translated forward in the feed direction from the backward position of Figure 7 to the advanced position of Figure 8. In this way, the sausage 500 is pushed or pulled forward and the wrapper 300 upstream of the pulling means 130 is made to pass through the closed grippers 114a and 114b and then also pulled forward in the feed direction. The length of the forward translation of the towing means 130 will therefore define the length (unless there are negligible differences) of the constricted part of the casing and therefore of the final elongated constriction 504 comprised between the first constriction 501 previously made and a second constriction 505 as well as between two consecutive and adjacent ligatures or clips. Obviously, this phase is then completed by making the second tie 503 (see detail in figure 8a) or clipping of the constriction 505 by twisting some twine around the constriction or alternatively applying a clip to the constriction itself (see in particular the detail in figure 8a ). During this phase it is possible to activate the braking means 150 (if it is desired to slow down the casing 300) but it is also possible to work with the braking means 150 deactivated.

During the subsequent and last phase, the throttling means are reopened (pincers 114a and 114b in the position of figure 4), the braking means 150 are deactivated (if previously activated) and the movable end 105m is brought back to the starting position of figure 6. At this point the working process can be continued by repeating the steps described above from time to time and until the casing or casing and / or the mixture is used up.

In this way, the system according to the present invention allows to produce both sausage chains with single binding or clipping, and sausage chains with double binding or clipping. In particular, if after having assumed the configuration shown in Figure 7, the system is brought back to the configuration shown in Figure 6, it is possible to make sausage chains having individual ligatures or clips between the sausages. If, on the other hand, after the configuration shown in Figure 7, one proceeds according to the processing steps described above, it is possible to obtain sausage chains having double bindings between the sausages.

Figures 9, 10, 10a, 11 and 11a schematically show a further embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the solution shown in said figures differs from the solution described above in that the feed tube is oriented in such a way that its longitudinal axis of symmetry forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the towing means 130 and therefore also with the binding or clipping means 114.

The solution just described offers the further advantage of preventing the sausages from being formed with completely unsightly swellings at one of their ends. In fact, thanks to this solution, it is possible to uniformly distribute the thrust forces exerted by the dough being extruded.

In the following, a further embodiment of the tying machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13.

In particular, in the further variant schematised in Figure 12, an alternative embodiment of the throttling means 114 is provided with respect to that shown with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The constricting means 114 shown in the system of figure 12 in fact comprise a system of pincers 310 and a single pincer (not shown in the figures).

The gripper system 310 is placed upstream in the feed direction with respect to the single gripper. The gripper system comprises a first gripper 311 upstream in the feed direction, a second intermediate gripper 312 and a third gripper 313 downstream. The single gripper is downstream in the feed direction with respect to the third gripper 313 of the gripper system 310.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, ligation is performed between the gripper system 310 and the single gripper. The twine (contained in a container not represented in the figures in the form of a ball of yarn) is guided in such a way as to carry out the binding between the single gripper and the gripper system 310.

The single gripper can have a shape similar to one of the grippers 114a and 114b described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. In particular, the single gripper can comprise an opening substantially in the shape of an eye or a drop, that is It is with a larger portion and a narrower position communicating with each other. The single gripper is rotatable between a position where its enlarged portion is aligned with the feed tube and a position where its narrow position is aligned with the feed tube.

The gripper system 310 and the relative movement system are described in detail below with reference to Figures 12 and 13.

The gripper system 310 comprises a first gripper 311 located upstream in the feed direction, a second intermediate gripper 312 and a third gripper 313 located downstream in the feeding direction. The first gripper 311, the second gripper 312 and the third gripper 313 are such as to define three substantially parallel planes.

The first gripper 311 and the third gripper 313 have substantially the same shape and are made integral by means of the connecting portions 314a and 314b. In particular, as can be seen in Figures 12 and 13, both the first gripper 311 and the third gripper 313 comprise an opening substantially having a teardrop or eye shape with an enlarged portion communicating with a narrow portion. The opening of the first gripper 311 has substantially the same shape as the opening of the third gripper 313. Furthermore, the connecting portions 314a and 314b are such that the first gripper 311 and the third gripper 313 are integral and substantially parallel and superimposed. so that the opening of the first gripper 311 corresponds to the opening of the third gripper 313. In other words, the enlarged portion of the opening of the first gripper 311 is aligned with the enlarged portion of the opening of the third gripper 313 , and the narrow portion of the opening of the first gripper 311 is aligned with the narrow portion of the opening of the third gripper 313. Since the first and third grippers are made integral by means of the connecting portions 314a and 314b, the movement of one caliper inevitably involves the movement of the other caliper. In particular, therefore, even during the movement phases, the openings of the first gripper 311 and of the third gripper 313 remain aligned.

The gripper system 310 further comprises a second intermediate gripper 312. In particular, the second gripper 312 is placed on a plane substantially parallel to the planes of the first and third grippers and is located in the space between the first gripper 311 and the third gripper 313.

The second gripper 312 has an arcuate or hook shape, with a pointed portion 312a partially surrounding an opening. The opening has a narrow portion 312b at the base of the pointed portion 312a. Furthermore, the opening has an enlarged portion at the intermediate portion and at the pointed end of the pointed portion 312a.

Both the group formed by the first gripper 311 integral with the third gripper 313 and the second gripper 312 can be rotated around a central pin 315. By means of rotation around the central pin 315, the gripper system 310 can assume the open configuration (figure 12) or the closed configuration (figure 13). In particular, in the open configuration the enlarged portion of the opening of the second hook 312 is aligned with the aligned enlarged portions of the openings of the first gripper 311 and of the third gripper 313. In the closed configuration the narrow portion of the opening of the second hook gripper 312 is aligned with the narrow aligned portions of the openings of the first gripper 311 and third gripper 313.

The rotation around the central pin 315 is carried out by means of the movement system comprising the actuation means 304. The actuation means 304 comprise an actuator 304a connected to a support plate 304b. A first arm 305 is rotatably connected both to the support plate 304b and to the second gripper 312. A second arm 306 is rotatably connected both to the support plate 304b and to the group formed by the first gripper 311 integral with the third caliper 313.

The translation of the actuator 304a therefore involves the rotation of the second gripper 312 and of the assembly formed by the first gripper 311 integral with the third gripper 313 around the central pin 315.

In particular, when the actuator 304a is translated from right to left in the configuration shown in Figures 18 and 19, the support plate 304b, the first arm 305 and the second arm 306 are moved towards the gripper system 310. The movement of the first arm 305, involves the rotation of the second pincer 312 counterclockwise around the central pin 315. The movement of the second arm 306 involves the rotation of the assembly formed by the first pincer 311 integral with the third pincer 313 in a clockwise direction around to the central pin 315. In this way, as shown in Figure 12, the enlarged portions of the openings of the pincers of the pincer system 310 are brought up to be aligned so as to make the pincer system 310 assume the open configuration.

On the other hand, when the actuator 304a is translated from left to right in the configuration shown in Figures 18 and 19, the support plate 304b, the first arm 305 and the second arm 306 are moved away from the gripper system 310. The movement of the first arm 305, involves the rotation of the second gripper 312 clockwise around the central pin 315. The movement of the second arm 306 involves the rotation of the assembly formed by the first gripper 311 integral with the third gripper 313 counterclockwise around the central pin 315. In this way, as shown in Figure 13, the restricted portions of the openings of the pincers of the pincer system 310 are brought up to be aligned so as to make the pincer system 310 assume the closed configuration.

The actuation means 304 can be, for example, of the pneumatic type as shown in figures 12 and 13 where the compressed air inlet 307a and outlet 307b suitable for actuating the actuation means 304 are visible. actuation means known to those skilled in the art can in any case be used instead of actuation means of the pneumatic type. When the gripper system 310 is placed in the open configuration as shown in figure 12, the mobile end 105m of the feeding tube can be brought into its forward position (feeding, with at least a part of the mobile end disposed in the defined internal space from the tying means). The movable end of the feed tube can therefore be moved to pass through the gripper system 310.

By placing, on the other hand, the gripper system 310 in the closed configuration as shown in figure 13, it is possible to make the bottlenecks in the tubular casing containing the mixture as described in detail above.

The throttling means described in detail with reference to Figures 12 and 13 can be used in place of the throttling means described in detail with reference to Figures 3 to 5.

In practice it has therefore been shown that the tying machine according to the present invention achieves the intended purposes by overcoming the drawbacks encountered in the state of the art, in particular those deriving from the movement of the feeding tube. In fact, the binding machine according to the present invention allows binding without sagging with the result of increasing the compactness of the sausages themselves in such a way as to satisfy the demands of consumers. The machine according to the present invention also allows the curvature naturally given to the sausages during the binding operations to be accentuated or decreased according to the needs and wishes of the consumers by suitably adjusting the tension of the twine.

A further advantage offered by the machine according to the present invention derives from the simplicity of the machine itself.

The general structure of the machine according to the present invention means that the binding operations are particularly simplified and linear, minimizing the risk of hitches, failures and / or inconveniences during the operations themselves. The result is therefore a high productivity and very short processing times, with a consequent lowering of the processing costs of sausages. Likewise, maintenance and cleaning of the tying machine are also particularly simplified.

Obviously, various modifications can be made to the binding or stapling machine of the present invention without departing from the scope or scope of the invention itself. It should therefore be noted that the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, including all forms equivalent to those claimed.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS 1) Tying machine (100) for tying by means of a thread or twine (400) of bagged products (500) based on a dough, called tying machine (100) comprising: a feeding tube which defines the feeding direction and is adapted to allow the filling of a tubular casing (300) with said mixture; constriction means (114, 114a, 114b) adapted to carry out constrictions (501) in said tubular casing (300); characterized in that: said feed tube comprises an outlet end portion (105m) movable along a direction substantially parallel to said feed direction between a feed position (A) in which at least a portion of said outlet end (105m ) passes through said throttling means (114, 114a, 114b) and a throttling position (B) in which said movable end of said supply tube (105) is entirely placed upstream of said throttling means (114, 114a, 114b). 2) Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the advancement of said movable end portion (105m) up to said feeding position (A) allows the filling of said tubular casing (300) in a downstream position in said feed direction with respect to said throttling means (114, 114a, 114b), while the retraction of said movable end portion (105m) to said throttling position (B) allows the realization of throttles (501) in said tubular casing (300). 3) Machine according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said feed tube comprises a fixed main portion (105) with an end portion (105b) able to be engaged by said empty tubular casing and housed inside said portion of mobile end. 4) Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said movable end portion comprises braking means adapted to regulate the sliding of said empty tubular casing on said end portion of said fixed portion of said feed tube. 5) Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said braking means comprise a tubular membrane housed inside said mobile end and adapted to be alternately filled with and emptied of a fluid. 6) Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said machine further comprises thrust means which can move alternately in the feed direction and in the opposite direction so as to push said filled tubular casing during their motion in the feed direction. 7) Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said thrust means comprise a through opening of such dimensions as to allow said empty or semi-filled tubular casing to pass through it and not to allow said casing to pass through it. filled tubular. 8) Machine according to claim 7, characterized in that said thrust means comprise a lowering with a concave surface that surrounds said opening and is adapted to come into contact with said full tubular casing at least during the motion of said thrust means in the feed direction. 9) Machine according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that said thrust means are arranged downstream with respect to said throttling means (114, 114a, 114b) along said feed direction. 10) Machine according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which said constricting means (114, 114a, 114b) comprise a first gripper (114a) comprising an opening (114a ...) having a narrow portion communicating with a portion and a second gripper (114b) comprising an opening (114bâ € ™) having a narrow portion communicating with an enlarged portion, said second gripper (114b) being placed downstream in said feed direction with respect to said first gripper (114a ), said first gripper (114a) and second gripper (114b) being suitable for being operated between a first position in which said enlarged portions are substantially aligned so as to allow the passage of at least a portion of said movable end (105b) of said feed tube (105) and a second position in which said restricted portions are substantially aligned so as to form bottlenecks (501) in said tubular casing (300). 11) Machine according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which said constriction means (114, 1 14a, 114b) comprise a single gripper (301) and a system of grippers (310), said single gripper (301) being positioned downstream in said feeding direction with respect to said gripper system (310), said gripper system comprising a first gripper (311) placed upstream in the feeding direction, a second intermediate gripper (312) and a third gripper (313) located downstream in the feed direction. 12) Machine according to one of the claims from 1 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises fixing and maintaining means suitable for fixing said bottlenecks while maintaining said tubular casing, at the outlet from said bottleneck means, constricted at said bottlenecks. 13) Machine according to claim 12, characterized in that said fixing and holding means comprise tying means (107) suitable for wrapping a portion of twine (400) around said narrowing (501). 14) Machine according to claim 12, characterized in that said fixing and holding means comprise means for applying clips or staples or similar components to said bottlenecks. 15) Machine according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said feed tube is angled with respect to said throttling means. 16) Combined system for the production of sausage products, comprising a machine (200) for processing soft doughs and a binding machine (100) according to one of claims 1 to 15, said machine (200) for processing soft doughs and said tying machine (100) being able to be coupled.