Butchering – Sausage making – Stuffing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-29
2001-10-16
Little, Willis (Department: 3643)
Butchering
Sausage making
Stuffing
C452S047000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302776
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to meat encasing machines for manufacturing sausages, wieners and the like (hereinafter simply referred to as sausages). More particularly, the present invention pertains to a sausage linker mechanism for use with a sausage stuffing machine. The linker mechanism of the present invention includes an improved casing lock for holding a sausage casing to a stuffing horn during a link twisting operation, wherein the stuffing horn is rotated.
2. Related Art
Sausage stuffing machines typically have an elongated stuffing horn, or nozzle, upon which is mounted a shirred flexible casing. A chuck is mounted on the machine and receives the discharge end of the stuffing horn through which meat emulsion is extruded. The end of the stuffing horn and the shirred casing thereon are inserted through the chuck, and the assembly is rotated by a suitable drive mechanism. A linking mechanism downstream from the discharge end of the stuffing horn serves to grasp the filled casing to hold it against rotation. Thus, the opposing forces exerted on the casing by the chuck and the linking mechanism cause the casing to twist at longitudinal increments defined by the distance between the discharge end of the chuck and the point where the filled casing is grasped by the linking mechanism. If no radial pressure is applied to the sausage casing at the end of the extruding nozzle, during the link twisting operation, then the casing will not rotate with the nozzle. This results in an improper twisting of the casing along the extruding horn instead of at the point between sausage links.
One related art device has a casing lock mechanism that includes a rubber diaphragm mounted within a rotating device and around a stuffing horn or nozzle. The rotating device is driven by a belt drive to synchronize its rotation with the rotation of the nozzle during a link twisting operation. However, this type of casing lock mechanism suffers several disadvantages. First, because of part tolerances, it is difficult to maintain an even pressure between the rubber diaphragm and the sausage casing during the link twisting operation. Second, when a link twisting operation is not being carried out, as for example during an extruding part of a sausage stuffing cycle, the rubber diaphragm exerts a radial pressure against the casing thereby producing unnecessary drag on the casing. But such radial pressure and drag are not necessary at times other than during a link twisting operation and, therefore, there is a risk that the sausage casing will be torn during an extruding operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,264 to Nausedas and U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,921 to Townsend are similar to the related art sausage stuffing machine discussed above in that they both include chucks that exert a radial pressure on the sausage casing at all times during the stuffing operation, i.e., during both extruding and link twisting operations. Therefore, these patents suffer the same disadvantages as the related art sausage stuffing machine in that they produce an unnecessary drag on the sausage casing, which drag may lead to a failure of the casing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,128 to Townsend attempts to reduce casing failures by providing a fin head mounted to the end of a stuffing tube, by a spring, wherein the fin head is rotatable over a limited range relative to the stuffing tube. However, Townsend's fin head includes radially extending fins which, although bendable, exert a drag on the sausage casing at all times, i.e., during both the extruding and link twisting operations. Therefore, Townsend still suffers disadvantages similar to those mentioned above in that there is an increased risk of casing failure due to the unnecessary constant outward pressure on the casing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the related art sausage stuffing machines. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the force on a sausage casing during a sausage extruding operation, yet provide sufficient force to the casing during a twisting operation so that the casing twists along with a stuffing horn. By reducing the force on a sausage casing during a sausage extruding operation, there is a educed risk of ripping, or otherwise causing failure of, a sausage casing. In turn, reducing the risk of casing failure leads to an increased throughput of a sausage stuffing machine due to less down time. This all results in significant cost savings in a sausage making operation.
The present invention achieves the above and other objects and advantages by providing a sausage casing lock mechanism which does not constantly exert a force on the sausage casing. A belt driven chuck member rotates at the same time and rpm—570, for example—as the nozzle during the link twisting operation. A pair of jaws are located within a radial track in the chuck member. When the chuck member rotates, a centrifugal force is imparted to the jaws thereby moving them into a position wherein they exert a force which presses the casing to the nozzle. This allows the twisting action of the nozzle properly to twist the casing thereby tying a previously extruded sausage link.
Further, when rotation stop—as during the extruding cycle—the jaws are in a free state which allows the casing to move easily therethrough. That is, the casing lock of the present invention uses centrifugal force to impart a holding force between jaw members and a stuffing horn only during a link twisting operation. Because the stuffing horn and chuck member, which holds the jaws, rotate only during a link twisting operation—not during the extruding operation—centrifugal force is not exerted on the jaws during the extruding operation. Thus, when centrifugal force is not exerted on the jaws, they are in a free state wherein a reduced force is generated on the sausage casing, thereby reducing the tendency of overstressing and tearing, or otherwise causing failure of, the sausage casing.
According to another feature of the present invention, the jaws—which surround the nozzle—are supplied in sets and are readily changed to accommodate different diameters of extruding nozzles. To change jaws, a chuck assembly—which includes the chuck member and the jaws—is unlatched from a support and moved forward to clear the nozzle. Being clear of the extruding nozzle, the jaws can be moved toward the center of the chuck member, along the radial track, to a position wherein they are clear of tabs which hold them in the chuck member. New jaws are then placed in position in the chuck member, and the assembly is moved back into its operating position, wherein the jaws surround the nozzle. That is, the casing lock mechanism of the present invention can easily adapt to different sized extruding nozzles which are used to form different sized sausages. Further, to facilitate replacement of the extruding nozzle, with or without changing jaws, the chuck assembly is pivotable—after being slid forward of the nozzle—to a position away from the axis of the nozzle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3964128 (1976-06-01), Townsend et al.
patent: 4073039 (1978-02-01), Muller et al.
patent: 4437209 (1984-03-01), Duroyon
patent: 4570301 (1986-02-01), Beckman et al.
patent: 4583264 (1986-04-01), Nausedas
patent: 4606379 (1986-08-01), Nausedas
patent: 4627130 (1986-12-01), Nausedas et al.
patent: 5013279 (1991-05-01), Southworth
patent: 5064401 (1991-11-01), Kasai et al.
patent: 5092813 (1992-03-01), Kasai et al.
patent: 5180327 (1993-01-01), Kasai et al.
patent: 5197914 (1993-03-01), Powers
patent: 5199921 (1993-04-01), Townsend
patent: 68342-A (1983-01-01), None
Hollymatic Corporation
Little Willis
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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