US1993480A - Method and apparatus for shirring sausage casings or the like - Google Patents

Description

Martgh 5, 1935. A. Q HEWITT 'A l 1,993,480

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR lSHIIRRING SAUSAGE CASINGS OR THE LIKE Filed June s, 1934 nii whichcondition, these `sections are in Fig. 4. When Patented Mar. 5, 19.35

METHOD AND Alfred G. Visking tion of Virginia APPARATUS SAUSAGE CASINGS 0R Hewitt, Chicago, Corporation, Chicago,

FOR SHIRRING THE LIKE Ill., assignor to The Ill., a corpora- Application June 8, 1934, Serial No. 729,727

5 Claims.

- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for shirring sausage-casings, or the like. It is particularly adapted to the packaging of cellulose ca sings, ordinarily manufactured in the form of continuous tubes. Such tubes may be cut into suitable lengths, say a length of about 32 feet; and a section of tubing of the length mentioned may be conveniently shirred upon a mandrel so as to occupy a space of about 12 inches in length. u

The tubing may be removed from the shirringmandrel onto a wooden rod, or dowel, for example. It may be shipped to sausage-makers in this condition, or may be otherwise packaged for shipment.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a method for facilitating the shirring operation.

The manner of practicing the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

Fig. l is a broken elevational view of apparatus adapted to the practice of the process, illustrating the shirring operation; Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus with the casing in shirred condition on the shirring-mandrel; Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken vertical view showing the formation of the shirring-mandrel; Fig. 4 is a broken section taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3.y

In the illustration given, A designates a suitable standard; B, a collapsible hollow mandrel supported by said standard; C, a device for expanding the mandrel; D, a table for supporting a length of casing; or tubing; and E, the casing, or tubing, which is shown in process of shirring in Fig. 1 and shown in completely shirred condition in Fig. 2.

The standard A is provided at its upper end with a horizontal opening 1 through which the collapsible mandrel extends.

The mandrel B is shown as comprising a xedly mounted lower section 2 and a vertically reciprocable upper section 3. In the expanded separated by longitudinal slots 4. A removable tip 5 is applied to the expanded mandrel. Preferably the tip has its point provided with an air-outlet 5, The tip may be removed to permit the shirred casing to be removed after the mandrel has been collapsed. The upper section 3 of the mandrel is equippedwith ring-sections 3a which slidably embrace the upper portion of the standard A.

The expanding device C is in the nature of a cam having the elongated cross-section shown the long axis is perpendicular,

the mandrel is in expan horizontal, the mandrel m The mandrel B is hollow, therethrough and, emergi ded condition; and when ay be collapsed. so that air may pass slots 4,

expand the casing E before and while it 1s being shirred. An air tube 6, connected with a source, of very low pressure air, supplies light pressure to the interior of the mandrel, and, hence, to the interior of the casing.

7 of the exp jects rearwardly through th The shank anding -device C proe rear end of the mandrel and is equlpped with a handle 'la by means of which the exp about its axis.

. A cup or gland embraces the sh 8, which may ank 'l of the air the rear end of the mandrel.

In the operation of slips one end of mandrel, thus covering the mandrel. At this a pressure of air pressure is mandrel, say a square inch, more the cellulose or less.

of keeping the inner wall of contact with the mandrel durst'antially out of ing the shirring operation.

anding device may time, or earlier A dmitted to the interior of the one-half pound per This has be turned be of rubber, preferably envelops the rear end of the mandrel and expanding device;

against escape from the device, the operator tubing E onto the if desired,

the tubing E sub- Also, air escaping through the orifice 5a in the tip of the mandrel gradually opens by the operator drel. The shirrin of the mandr to the tip of the m portion wardly progresses.

After the oper up the flat tubing tip 5 maybe removed and the The shirred casing dowel-pin, will serve to support the mandrel onto a shirred casing to ation may be The expedient um, such as air,

work, and avoids ly, such casings, eter sizes, have which facilitates the mandrel an mandrel is of The invention for shipment purposes,

the mang is accomplished at the basev el and gradually extends forandrel as the operation wooden rod, which shirred casing, either or for conveying the the point where a further operperformed.

of introducing a gaseous mediunder light pressure greatly fainjury to the cilitates the shirring operation,

expedites the casing. Frequentparticularly in the small-diama wall-thickness of a than 1/ 1000 of an inch. Accordingly,

little less a method the splipping ofthe tubing onto great advantage described is d the shirring operation on the in the art. here illustrated in the simplest form. It may be practiced in other and more complicated embodiments.

It is preferred, of course, to maintain a lm, or layer, of air, between the mandrel and the tubing which is being shirred thereon. However, other suitable gaseous medium may be employed for the purpose, if desired. Ordinarily, the casing is substantially dry while the shirring is being effected. That is, the casing is dry to the feel, although it may have a slight amount of moisture hygroscopically contained therein.

'I'he foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art. Y

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A process casing which is being shirred.

2. A process as stated in claim l, as practiced by maintaining a light internal pressure in the `drel tip, thus vstandard upon which a tubing portion of the casing being shirred on the mandrel and admitting pressure to that portion of the casing which is being drawn onto the mantending to open the casing.

3. A tubing-shirring process which comprises drawing a flattened dry tubing onto a mandrel shirring of the tubing while maintaining a light internal air pressure in the portion of the tubing on the mandrel and in the portion of the tubing about to be slipped onto the mandrel.

4.- A shirring apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a standard, a collapsible tubular mandrel mounted upon the upper portion of said may be shirred, said mandrel having means for emitting a gaseous fluid to maintain a gaseous layer` between the mandrel and the tubing being shirred thereon, and means for supplying a gaseous medium of shirring dry sausage-casings,

under pressure to the interior of said collapsible mandrel.

5. Apparatus as speciiled in claim 4, combined with a mandrel-expanding device within the mandrel and equipped outsideI the mandrel with an actuating handle.

ALFRED G. HEWITI

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