Patent ID: 6482079
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: A22C

Abstract:
An apparatus for manufacturing foodstuffs comprising:stuffed-casing forming and rotating means for forming a stuffed casing and rotating the stuffed casing; stuffed-casing constriction-forming and conveying means for forming a twisted portion in the stuffed casing by squeezing and constricting the stuffed casing being formed and rotated by said stuffed-casing forming and rotating means, stuffed-casing constriction-forming and conveying means having a conveying area for conveying the stuffed casing; clamping means including a first clamping member and a second clamping member having at least two surfaces opposing each other at a predetermined interval therebetween with respect to a longitudinal axis of the twisted portion formed in the conveying area and adapted to clamp the twisted portion at at least a first position and a second position of the twisted portion by reducing the interval between said surfaces as the stuffed casing is conveyed, the first position being located in such a manner as to be spaced apart from the second position in a conveying direction; and cutting means for cutting the twisted portion located between the first position and the second position; wherein said stuffed-casing constriction-forming and conveying means comprises: squeezing means including a first pincher member and a second pincher member each having a squeezing surface to squeeze and constrict the stuffed casing; a first endless member provided with the first pincher member; a second endless member provided with the second pincher member so as to precede the second clamping member in the conveying direction; and circulatingly moving means for circulatingly moving the first endless member and the second endless member in synchronism with each other to circulatingly move the first pincher member and the second pincher member, wherein the first clamping member is provided on the first endless member; and the second clamping member is provided on the second endless member at upstream side of the second pincher member in the conveying direction adjacent to the second pincher member.