Butchering – Shirring of casing
Patent
1996-11-12
1999-11-09
Little, Willis
Butchering
Shirring of casing
452 35, 53450, 53553, A22C 1302
Patent
active
059803746
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an improved meat casing, and in particular to a meat casing having circumferential reinforcement which enables high filling pressures to be used when filling the casing with meat.
In addition, the invention relates to an improved method of shirring meat casing where the casing is a combination of synthetic or natural tubular material within a netting material which may be knitted or woven.
In the following description, the terms "casing", "meat product" and "netting" shall have the meanings given hereunder: of meat products. netting whether elasticated, rigid or laterally extendable.
In the manufacture of such meat products, natural or artificial casings in the form of elongated tubes are normally pumped full of meat from a machine specifically designed for the purpose. Such a machine normally comprises a feed mechanism for injecting meat through a delivery tube or injection nozzle, where the casing is shirred to the external surface of the injection nozzle. A clip or other closure means is placed over the ends of the casing, and a quantity meat is then injected into the casing. Depending upon desired length of the meat product, the process is interrupted at various stages so that clips or twists may be applied.
In such machines it is normal to make use of artificial skins such as fibrous based casings or fibrous casings. Such casings are produced in a variety of wall thickness, and the production rate and injection pressures will determine the thickness of the casing that is used.
The thinner walled casings are generally unsatisfactory for high production rate machines. These machines operate at much higher injection pressures, and thinner casings will split at higher pressures.
However, as the thicker walled casings are much more expensive, there is a tendency to use the thinner walled casings and to reduce the injection pressure and therefore production rate of the injection machinery. Although there is a reduced costs in consumables, there is also a reduced production rate.
Therefore, it is one object of this invention to provide an improved casing which overcomes the abovementioned problems, and which provides a casing capable of withstanding higher production rate injection pressures.
String or elastic netting is well known, and is commonly used in respect of sausages and other meat products. However, such netting is normally applied after the filling of casing, and is primarily used for decorative purposes or to apply pressure during cooking.
Such netting comprises longitudinal members that are normally manufactured from inextensible materials such as cotton yarn, and also comprises a circumferential spiral of elastic material which is knitted into a tubular net.
Therefore, in a further aspect of this invention, casing is located within netting such that they are co-extensive, and such that they can be both shirred onto an injection nozzle together.
In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a casing for use with meat products comprising a combination of a first tubular casing and a tubular net, located around and substantially concentric to said first tubular member, said tubular net comprising circumferential elastic cords and longitudinal cords, the relative diameter of said circumferential cords and said first tubular casing being such that as said first casing is being filled with meat product said circumferential cords are placed under tension prior to said first tubular casing reaching its maximum diameter, such that hoop stress in said first tubular member is also resisted by said circumferential cords.
Preferably, stress is applied to the circumferential cords at a stage just prior to the maximum diameter of the first tubular casing being reached. The maximum stress is not applied instantaneously to the circumferential cords thereby reducing shock loading forces to the cords and first tubular casing.
Although the term `circumferential cords` is used, it will be realised that preferably only a single cord is used which forms a spiral along the length of the t
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