SAUSAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract: A sausage forming apparatus, comprising a supply device (2, 3) for supplying a stuffed sausage membrane with intermediate spaces, a first engaging unit (100) for engaging the stuffed sausage membrane with intermediate spaces at the location of the intermediate spaces, having a moveable first clamp (115) and a moveable second clamp (116) which, in a feeding position, are located next to one another, at least one second engaging unit situated at a distance from the first engaging unit for engaging the sausage membrane at a following intermediate space, having a moveable first clamp and a moveable second clamp which, in a feeding position, are located next to each other, operating means (111, 112) arranged for moving a second clamp of the first engaging unit and a first clamp of the second engaging unit from the feeding position to a closing position, in which the second clamp of the first engaging unit and the first clamp of the second engaging unit are located near one another.

Description: Title: Sausage forming apparatus The invention relates to a sausage forming apparatus for forming sausages. When making sausage, and in particular when making dried sausage, a casing or other tubular membrane is filled with sausage stuffing by means of a stuffing machine. Periodically, an intermediate space in the casing is left empty; this empty space indicates the beginning and the end of a sausage. For forming a sausage, the segments of the filled casing are cut to the proper length. Per cut-off segment, the ends of the cut-off sausage are bent towards each other by hand to thus form a round, bent sausage. Subsequently, the ends of the sausage are brought, by hand, into a chpping machine, which closes off the ends of the sausage with a clip and connects the ends to one another, for instance by means of a string. Subsequently, the sausage thus formed can be processed further; it can, for instance, be dried. A drawback of this known method of manufacturing sausages is that it entails many operations which are to be carried out manually. As a result, the labor costs are high, and, moreover, the sausages formed are relatively irregular. The object of the invention is to eliminate this disadvantage by providing a sausage forming apparatus with which sausages can be formed in a short time, with great accuracy and regularity. To this end, the invention provides a sausage forming apparatus according to claim 1. With this apparatus, a sausage is formed by clamping a stuffed sausage membrane with intermediate spaces, at the location of an intermediate space, in respective first and second clamps of a first engaging unit, which clamps are next to one another in a feeding position, and clamping a next intermediate space in respective first and second clamps of a second engaging unit, which clamps are located next to one another in a feeding position, and subsequently, by means of operating means, moving a second clamp of the first engaging unit and a first clamp of the second engaging unit from the feeding position to a closing position, in which the second clamp of the first engaging unit and the first clamp of the second engaging unit are located near to one another. In this manner, a bent-round sausage is created whose ends can then be clipped together. Engaging the sausage membrane and bending the sausage takes place by means of the moveable clamps, so that manual operations can be omitted. Furthermore, the apparatus according to the invention can work at a high speed, at which, also, a good repetition accuracy can be achieved. The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a schematic top plan view of an example of an apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows, in perspective, an exemplary embodiment of an engagement station according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a clamping device according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows a front view of the clamping device according to Fig.' 3; Fig. 5 shows a front view of a part of an engagement station provided with a cutting device depicted schematically in cross section; Fig. 6 shows a side view of a portion of a turret according to the invention in an initial condition; Fig. 7 shows the portion of Fig. 6 in a final condition; Fig. 8 shows a clamped sausage; and Fig. 9 shows a view of a cutting device according to the invention. In Fig. 1, an example of an embodiment of a sausage forming apparatus according to the invention is shown. In this description, forming a sausage is understood to include: cutting a stuffed sausage membrane to a desired length, bringing together the cut-offends and closing the ends which have been brought together. The apparatus 1 comprises a supply device 2 for a sausage string; with it, a casing or another tubular, flexible membrane is stuffed with sausage mass, while periodically leaving an intermediate space open, and subsequently released. Such supply devices are known from practice so that, for brevity's sake, a detailed description is omitted. The invention, for that matter, is not limited to sausages; the invention can also be used with other tubular, flexible membranes, with any desired filling, edible or not. The supply device 2 delivers the filled casing to a feeding station 3. This feeding station 3 can, for instance, be manned by an operator or work entirely automatically. By means of this feeding station 3, the casing is fed into a turret station 4. The turret station 4 has a circular frame on which a number of engaging units, in this example twenty, are disposed in the form of engagement stations 100, which are in part represented schematically in Fig. 1. The invention is, for that matter, in no way limited to the number of engagement stations mentioned here by way of example; according to the invention, the number of engagement stations can be two or more. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the circular arrangement of the engagement stations mentioned here by way of example; the invention provides for any desired arrangement in which the engagement stations are spaced apart, such as, for instance, a rectilinear arrangement. In Figs. 2 and 3, an example of an engagement station 100 is shown in more detail. The engagement station has a first frame plate 101 and a substantially parallel, spaced away second frame plate 102. The two frame plates are arranged on the turret 4. In both frame plates 101 and 102, at equal heights, two holes 103, 104, and 105, 106, respectively, are provided, while a first shaft 107 is disposed in the holes 103 and 105 and a second shaft 108 is disposed in the holes 104 and 106. The two shafts 107 and 108 are rotatably mounted in the frame plates 101, 102 by means of bearings. On each shaft 107, 108, near the second frame plate 102, a gear wheel 109, 110, respectively, is disposed in a non-rotatable manner, as is schematically represented in Fig. 2. The two gear wheels 109 and 110 mesh with each other. Further, on the rear side of the frame plate 102, the first shaft 107 is provided with a lever 111, which is provided with a wheel 112 at the end remote from the shaft 107. At the end situated beyond the first frame plate 101, the two shafts 107 and 108 are provided with a lever 113, 114. At the end remote from the shaft, each lever is provided with a clamp in the form of a clamping device 115, 116, respectively. An example of such a clamping device is shown in more detail in Figs. 3 and 4. The clamping device has a first jaw part 117 and a second jaw part 118, which are hingedly connected relative to one another by means of a hinge 119. In Fig. 3, the clamping device is shown in closed condition, while in the front view of Fig. 4 the clamping device is shown in opened condition. The first jaw part 117 has a clamping surface 120, provided with a centrally located recess 121. The second jaw part 118 has a clamping surface 122, provided with a centrally located projecting part 122', whose width corresponds to the recess 121, so that, in closed condition of the clamping device, the projecting part 122' of the clamping surface 122 rests within the boundary of the recess 121. Beyond the respective clamping surfaces, the jaw parts 117 and 1 * 18 are provided with diverging run-in parts 123, 124, respectively, which have an angle relative to the clamping surface 120, 122 such that the feeding of a casing to be clamped proceeds readily. Subsequently, a fed-in casing is clamped between the clamping surface 120 with the recess 121 and the clamping surface 122 with the projecting part 122'. As the projecting part 122' and the recess 121 fit together as groove and tongue, a good clamping of the casing is obtained. Preferably, all transitions of edges of the jaw parts 117 and 118 are rounded off to reduce the risk of dirt remaining behind and to simplify the cleaning of the jaw parts. Beyond the hinge 119, on the side remote from the clamping surface, the second jaw part merges into a lever 125. By means of a spring, not shown, this lever 125 is pushed upwards relative to the first jaw part 117, so that, in condition of rest, the clamping device is in a clamping condition. By pushing the lever 125 against the spring pressure, the second jaw part 118 is moved from the first jaw part 117 in the direction indicated with B, so that the clamping action of the jaw parts is removed. Feeding a casing into the clamp takes place with the jaw parts in closed condition; by means of the spring, the jaw parts are pushed onto one another. By means of the run-in parts 123 and 124, the casing can be easily brought between the jaw parts into the clamped condition described hereinabove. In Fig. 2 there is shown the engagement station 100 with the clamping devices in the initial position; here, the levers 113 and 114 are in vertical position, the clamping devices 115, 116 being situated right next to each other. Between the clamping devices, some space is free in which a cutting device is included, as will be described hereinafter. Incidentally, the invention can also be designed such that, in the initial position, the clamping devices are situated against one another. In this position, the wheel 112 with the lever 111 is substantially horizontal. By now moving the wheel 112 upwards, the shaft 107 is rotated via the lever 111. As a result, the lever 113 moves outwards, indicated with the arrow C. As the shaft 107 is coupled to the other shaft 106 via the gear wheels 109, 111, the lever 114 also moves outwards. As there is no slip possible in the transmission which is formed by the two gear wheels 109, 110, the outward movement of the levers 113, 114 takes place simultaneously. When the wheel 112 has moved to an upper position, the levers 113, 114 are in a horizontal orientation; in the following, this horizontal position will be designated as the closing position. It is, for that matter, not necessary that the levers are in a horizontal position in the closing position; bending the sausage can also be achieved by placing the levers at an angle with the horizontal. By pivoting the levers 113, 114 a simple and efficient manner of displacement of the levers 113, 114 is obtained. By coupling the pivoting movement of the two levers by means of gear wheels or another type of form-closing coupling, no slip can arise and it is guaranteed that the movement of the two levers proceeds synchronously. The invention is not limited to the manner of moving the clamping devices from the initial position to the clip position as mentioned by way of example here. The invention also provides other manners of moving the clamping devices, for instance by means of translation. In or near each engagement station 100, a cutting device 130, operating between the two clamping devices 113, 114, is disposed, which cutting device is provided with, for instance, a cutting knife, as is schematically shown in cross section in Fig. 5, and in more detail in elevation in Fig. 9. This cutting device is not shown in Fig. 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the cutting device 130 has a substantially rectangular main part 400 in which a recess 410 is provided. The main part 400 is fixedly arranged on the engagement station 100. The recess 410 has an upper wall in the form of an upper surface 131" and a lower wall in the form of a lower surface 131' located at a distance from the upper surface 131". In the main part 400, a recess 420 is provided with a substantially elongated cross section extending from the lower surface 131' in a direction facing away from the upper surface 131". In the recess 420, a knife 132 with a cutting edge 132' is located. By means of a driving device 133 which in this example is formed by a lever, the knife 132 can be moved in the recess 420 from a free position, wherein the space in the recess 410 between the surfaces 131' and 131" is released, to a cutting position, wherein the knife 132 extends through the opening 420 in the surface 131'. In Fig. 5, the free position is represented, and the possible movement of the knife 132 is indicated with the arrow D. In Fig. 9, the knife 132 is represented in a position where the cutting edge of the knife projects just above the surface 131'; after this, the knife can be moved further by the driving device 133 in the direction towards the surface 131", thereby cutting off the sausage, if any, present in the recess 410. In the feeding position, the space of the recess 410 between the surfaces 131' and 131" is free and a sausage membrane can be brought into the recess 410. For that matter, the invention is not limited to the design of the cutting device mentioned here by way of example; the invention provides the use of any suitable cutting device for cutting a sausage membrane, such as, for example, a pair of scissors or a rotating knife. On the turret station 4, twenty engagement stations 100 are provided. The engagement stations 100 are distributed over the circumference of the turret 4 in a regular manner, and they are positioned such that the clamping devices 115, 116 of each engagement station 100 are located on the outer side of the turret 4. The turret 4 is provided with a driving device, not shown, with which the turret 4 with the engagement stations 100 can be rotated. In Fig. 1, the direction of rotation is indicated with A. The mutual distance between the engagement stations 100 is such that, when the arms of the engagement stations 100 are in the closing position, the clamping devices 116, 115 of arms of adjacent stations 100 facing towards each other are close to one another. The apparatus 1 is further provided with a closing device in the form of a clipping station 200 placed on the edge of the turret 4, downstream in the direction A of the supply 2. The chpping station 200 is designed for applying clips to the ends of a sausage; such devices are known from practice and available on the market so that, for brevity's sake, no detailed description will be given. For that matter, the invention is not limited to the use with the clipping station 200 mentioned by way of example; the invention provides for the use of other closing devices for closing sausages, such as, for instance, a tie-off device with which sausages are closed by means of tying-off with, for example, cord or rope. Downstream of the chpping station 200 in the direction A, a discharge device 210 is placed next to the turret 4; this discharge device 210 is arranged for discharging sausages clipped by the clipping station 200. Downstream of the discharge device 210 in the direction A, a cleaning device 220 is placed next to the turret 4; this cleaning device 220 is arranged for cleaning the clamping devices of engagement stations 100 rotating along the cleaning device 220. The formation of a sausage by means of the engagement stations 100 will be elucidated with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. 6, two adjacent engagement stations 100 are shown, each with the levers 113, 114 in the engaging position as described hereinabove. A casing 300, stuffed with a sausage stuffing 301, except at positions 302 between the stuffing, is placed in the clamping devices 115, 116. The clamping devices 115, 116 engage the non-stuffed parts 302 of the casing 300, such that between the two stations 100 a length of stuffed casing is present which corresponds to the length of a sausage to be formed. Subsequently, with the clamping devices 115, 116 in the engaging position, the casing is cut between the clamping devices situated next to each other of a station 100 at the position indicated with E, for instance with the cutting device 130 described hereinabove but not shown in this Figure, so that ends 140 are formed. The sausage to be formed remains clamped in the clamping devices. Then, the levers 113, 114 of the engagement stations 100 are moved to the closing position in the direction of the arrow C as described hereinabove by moving the wheel 112 of the respective station 100. This results in the situation as shown in Fig. 7, and more in detail in Fig. 8. As the clamping devices 115, 116 in the closing position are located very near to one another, the sausage is forced into the desired, round shape. For finishing the sausage, the cut-off ends 140 of the sausage are connected to each other with^ clip by means of a clipping device, at a position close to the location of clamping by the clamping devices, as is indicated with F. Finally, the now clipped sausage is removed from the clamping devices by cutting the casing between the clamping devices and the chp arranged at the position F. The sausage is now free and can be discharged by a discharge device. The clamping devices still hold the cut-off end 140 of the casing; this can be removed by opening the clamping devices and taking out the residual casing. The above-described process of forming sausages takes place in the apparatus for forming sausages as follows. In Fig. 1, the sausage forming apparatus is shown in top plan view, the turret 4, in operation, rotating in the direction indicated with A. By means of the supply device 2, a stuffed casing 300 with intermediate empty spaces 302 (Fig. 6) is supplied to the feeding station 3. In the feeding station 3, the casing 300 is placed, adjacent its empty intermediate spaces 302, in the clamping devices of the engagement stations 100 rotating along the feeding device 3. To this end, in a feeding zone I, the clamping devices are closed and the casing is brought into the clamping devices in the manner described hereinabove. After the casing has been placed in the clamping devices, the stations 100 rotate further, the clamping devices 115, 116 engaging the casing under spring pressure, and holding the casing. After the feeding zone I, the stations 100 rotate further to the cutting zone II, where, between the clamping devices, the casing is cut off by means of the cutting device 130 of the stations 100, as already described hereinabove in relation to Fig. 5. To this end, a device is placed along the turret 4 in the cutting zone II, which device operates the cutting device 130 of a passing station 100 by engaging the lever 133. Thereupon, the turret rotates further to the combining zone III, where the arms of the stations are turned to the closing position, as already described and shown in Fig. 7. To this end, in the combining zone III, the turret is provided, at its inside, with a guide, not shown, in which the wheels 112 of the stations 100 engage. This guide runs upwards in the direction of the arrow A, such that, over the path of the combining zone III, the levers of the stations 100 are gradually moved to the horizontal closing position. At the end of the combining zone III, the arms are in the horizontal closing position, as shown in Fig. 7, so that the arms in this position move along the chpping zone IN. Here, by means of the clipping station as described hereinabove, a clip is arranged around both ends of the sausage, and the sausage is cut off. To this end, the clipping station is provided with a knife 212, schematically shown; preferably, this is a horizontally arranged round knife, provided at the circumference with a cutting edge. Preferably, the knife rotates to enhance the cutting action of the knife. Subsequently, in the discharge zone V, following the chpping zone IN, the cut-off sausage is caught by a discharge device 210. The discharge device 210 receives the sausage as it is cut loose from the clamping devices and transports the received sausage away from the turret 4. The discharge device can, for instance, comprise an elongated transport path 215, provided with a row of suspension hooks 216 on which the discharged sausages are hung. Once a row of sausages has been hung on the suspension hooks 216, this row of sausages can easily be taken off by inserting a rod through the row of sausages and lifting the entire row at once from the hooks. After the discharge zone N, the turret 4 rotates further into the cleaning zone VI. The guide for the wheels 112 runs downwards again, so that the levers move into the engaging position again. Further, the clamping devices are opened. To this end, along the path, for instance a device, for example in the form of a rail 160 fixedly disposed relative to the turret 4, or other operating device can be disposed which depresses the lever 125 of the clamping devices 115, 116 to open the clamping devices. The cut-off length of casing 140 is thereby released. The cleaning device 220 disposed along the turret 4 can comprise, for instance, rotating brushes which pass along the opened clamping devices to remove residues of casing and possible other impurities. If desired, a cleaning liquid and water can be supplied to improve the cleaning action of the brushes. Incidentally, the cleaning device 220 according to the invention can also be designed in a different manner. Additionally, the device 160 for opening the clamps 115, 116 according to the invention can, if desired, also be placed at different positions along the turret to open the clamps. After the cleaning zone VI, the engagement stations 100 reach the feeding zone I again, and the cycle of forming sausages is traversed from the start again. Although in the example described the engagement stations in each case form a physical unit, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. The invention also provides engaging units comprising several clamping devices; additionally, the concept of engaging unit comprises, according to the invention, a logical combination of two clamping devices located next to each other, it not being of importance whether these two clamping devices form part of a physical unit. Although in the described example per engagement station a cutting device is used, the invention can, for instance, also be designed to have one or more cutting devices placed in the cutting zone II next to the turret. This has as an advantage that the engagement stations can be made of simpler construction.

Claims: Claims 1. A sausage forming apparatus, comprising a supply device (2, 3) for supplying a stuffed sausage membrane with intermediate spaces, a first engaging unit (100) for engaging the stuffed sausage membrane with intermediate spaces at the location of the intermediate spaces, having a moveable first clamp (115) and a moveable second clamp (116) which are located next to each other in a feeding position, at least one second engaging unit (100) located at a distance from the first engaging unit (100) for engaging the sausage membrane at a following intermediate space, having a moveable first clamp (115) and a moveable second clamp (116), located next to each other in a feeding position, operating means (111, 112) arranged for moving a second clamp (116) of the first engaging unit (100) and a first clamp (115) of the second engaging unit (100) from the feeding position to a closing position, in which the second clamp (116) of the first engaging unit (100) and the first clamp (115) of the second engaging unit (100) are located near each other. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a frame (101, 102) on which the first and second clamp (115, 116) of each engaging unit are pivotally arranged, the respective clamps (115, 116) being pivotable between the feeding position and the closing position. 3. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second clamp (115, 116) of each engaging unit are coupled to each other by means of a slip-free transmission for synchronously pivoting the first and second clamp (115, 116). 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the slip-free transmission is formed by a gear wheel transmission. 5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamps (115, 116) each comprise a first jaw part (117) and a second jaw part (118), the first jaw part (117) being provided with a clamping surface provided with a central recess, the second jaw part (118) being provided with a clamping part which, in closed condition of the clamp (115, 116), falls in the recess of the clamping surface of the first jaw part. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the jaw parts (117, 118) are pressed onto each other by spring tension. 7. An apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one of the jaw parts (118) is provided with an operating member (125) for causing the clamp (115, 116) to be opened. 8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each engaging unit (100) is provided with a cutting device (130), provided with cutting means, positioned, in the feeding position, between the first and second clamp (115, 116) of the respective engaging unit. 9. An apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the cutting device (130) is provided with operating means for carrying out a cutting movement with the clamps (115, 116) of the respective engaging unit (100) in the feeding position. 10. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective engaging units (100) are distributed along the circumference of a circular turret (4), which is provided with a driving device for rotating the turret (4). 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the supply device is arranged for supplying sausage membrane stuffed with intermediate spaces to the clamps (115, 116) of the engaging units (100) present on the turret (4). 12. - An apparatus according to claim 11, characterized by a device located downstream of the supply device, for cutting a non-stuffed portion of a sausage membrane extending between two clamps (115, 116). 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, characterized by a combining device located downstream of the cutting device, for moving the respective clamps (115, 116) of the engaging units from the feeding position to the closing position, whereby a stuffed length of sausage membrane is brought in a rounded condition. 14. An apparatus according to claim 13, characterized by a closing device (220) located downstream of the combining device, for applying a closure to two sausage ends of clamps (115, 116) situated near to each other in the closing position. 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the clipping device comprises a horizontally arranged rotating cutting knife for cutting clipped sausage ends loose from the clamps. 16. An apparatus according to one of claims 14 - 15, characterized by a cleaning device (220) located downstream of the closing device. 17. An apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the cleaning device (220) is provided with brushes located near the clamps (115, 116). 18. An apparatus according to any one of claims 10 — 17, characterized by a device (160) located along the turret, for opening the clamps (115, 116):

Inventors: HULS WILLEM NICOLAAS, HULS, WILLEM, NICOLAAS
Applicants: HULS BEHEER VLAGTWEDDE B V, HULS WILLEM NICOLAAS, HULS BEHEER VLAGTWEDDE B.V., HULS, WILLEM, NICOLAAS
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A22C11
IPC codes: A22C11