Abstract:
A method of and apparatus for changing the position of chains of sausages in sausage production processes with two endless conveying belts which convey the sausages of the chain of sausages over a first length in a first direction and which then deflect the chain of sausages into a second direction and convey it over a second length in said second direction, the distance between the conveying belts being chosen such that it is larger during transport in said second direction than during transport in said first direction, for use in transferring a chain of sausages from a twist-off station to a suspension station.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for changing the position of chains of sausages in sausage production processes making use of two endless conveying belts which are arranged in parallel, and to the use of said method and apparatus for transferring chains of sausages from a twist-off station to a suspension station. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In sausage production processes, sausages are produced in the form of chains of sausages. The sausage meat is pressed into the sausage skin in a stuffing machine. The sausage skin is twisted off at predefined intervals so as to form individual sausages which are interconnected at the twist-off points after the fashion of a chain. Subsequent to the twist-off unit, the chains of sausages are introduced e.g. between two conveying belts which transport the chain of sausages away from the twist-off station at a defined speed. Due to the predefined speed, the length of a sausage between two twist-off points is defined. The chain of sausages can be transferred from the conveying belts to a suspension station where the chain of sausages is attached to suitable hooks at individual twist-off points thereof such that it takes up little space. With the aid of these hooks, the chain of sausages can then be transported away on suitable rails. 
     The chain of sausages must be knotted together at the sausage skin end. If the sausage skin tears or bursts, an operator must also be able to take action. This often necessitates that the operator works below the suspension hooks with a stoop. 
     The height above the floor at which the chain of sausages is discharged from the twist-off unit is predetermined by the structural design of the stuffing machine. This height should not be chosen too high so that the stuffing machine can still be filled easily. In addition, an excessively high level of support is not desirable for reasons of safety. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus which permit improved handling of the machine. 
     In the case of the method according to the present invention, the chain of sausages is taken hold of by two endless conveying belts subsequent to the twist-off station; by means of these conveying belts the chain of sausages is transported away, initially without any change of direction. In a deflection area, the conveying belts are deflected into a second direction so as to convey the chain of sausages in a second direction at an oblique angle to a higher level. The distance between the conveying belts in the area of transport in said second direction is larger than the distance between the conveying belts in the area of transport in said first direction. 
     In the deflection area, the path of movement of one conveying belt is shorter than the path of movement of the other conveying belt. This has the effect that the conveying belts are longitudinally displaced relative to one another in the deflection area in the direction of movement. If a sausage portion is located between the conveying belts, friction may be caused by this longitudinal displacement, which may injure the sausage portion. By increasing the distance in the second area, in which the chain of sausages is conveyed in the second direction, the distance between the conveying belts will increase in the deflection area. Also this will contribute to a reduction of the friction acting on the sausage portions, whereby the risk of injuries will be reduced. 
     In the area in which transport takes place in the first direction, the distance between the conveying belts may correspond to the diameter of the sausage. If the distance in said area of transport in the first direction is, however, chosen such that it is smaller than the desired stuffing diameter, it will be guaranteed that the chain of sausages is safely held between the conveying belts during the twist-off process. In this way, the respective sausage is reliably taken hold of and transported. Reliable taking over of the chain of sausages by the conveying belts is guaranteed, when the chain of sausages is conveyed over a certain length in said first direction, i.e. when the transport path in said first direction is chosen such that also longer sausages can be taken hold of safely. In practice, a conveying length of at least 15 cm in said first direction proved to be suitable for all the conventional different sausage lengths. 
     The chain of sausages can be removed from the second area. According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, the area of transport in said second direction is followed by another deflection area in which the chain of sausages is deflected from said second direction into a third direction, which is parallel to said first direction. By means of this method, the chain of sausages is therefore displaced parallel to its original direction of transport. If the chain of sausages is e.g. horizontally introduced between the conveying belts, it can be raised to a higher level by said advantageous method, and it will be discharged from the conveying belts again in parallel. 
     For guaranteeing a reliable transfer to a subsequent station, it will be advantageous when the distance between the conveying belts is smaller in the area of transport in said third direction than in the area of transport in said second direction. 
     A careful transfer will be possible when the distance in the area of transport in said third direction is larger than or equal to the stuffing diameter of a sausage portion. 
     It will be advantageous when the transport length in said third direction is again chosen such that it will suffice for all conventional sausage lengths (also in this case at least approx. 15 cm) so as to permit transfer with the correct orientation. 
     An apparatus according to the present invention for carrying out the method according to the present invention comprises two parallel endless conveying belts comprising a first area for conveying the chain of sausages in a first direction, the conveying belts extending at a first distance from one another in said first area, a first deflection area in which the conveying belts are deflected parallel to one another from said first direction into a second direction, a second area for conveying said chain of sausages in a second direction, the conveying belts extending at a second distance from one another in said second area, said second distance being larger than said first distance. 
     The apparatus according to the present invention can be implemented such that it is adapted to convey sausages having a defined length and a defined diameter. It will, however, be advantageous to provide adjustment means with the aid of which the distances in the first area and in the second area and in the third area, respectively, can be adjusted so that sausage diameters of different dimensions can be processed. 
     The endless conveying belts can be driven by individual motors operating at matched speeds. A particularly simple embodiment is, however, an embodiment in the case of which the two conveying belts are driven with the aid of a suitable gear unit by the same motor. This will guarantee a synchronous movement. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     One embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention and the execution of the method according to the present invention are explained on the basis of the figures enclosed, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows an apparatus according to the present invention carrying out a sausage processing operation, 
     FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. 1, scaled-up, 
     FIG. 3 shows detail X of FIG. 1 in the first deflection area, 
     FIG. 4 shows a sectional view along the sectional area B in FIG. 3, and 
     FIG. 5 shows a conventional sausage processing means. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 5 shows part of a known sausage processing line. Reference numeral  1  stands for a stuffing machine for stuffing sausage skins with sausage meat. The sausage meat is fed through a hopper  3  and ejected through a charging pipe  5  e.g. by means of a vane pump in the manner known. The charging pipe  5  has applied thereto a tubular sausage skin which is pulled off by the stuffing material ejected. Reference numeral  7  stands for a brake ring mechanism and twist-off mechanism, respectively. The sausage skin filled with the sausage meat passes through this twist-off mechanism and is taken hold of by the conveying belts  110   a ,  110   b , which are implemented as endless belts and which define between them a channel for the sausages. The endless belts  110   a ,  110   b  are driven such that the sausages are moved in the direction of transport  490 . This transport unit is connected to the stuffing machine via a connection  6  so as to achieve a synchronous movement. Whenever the portion for one sausage has passed the twist-off mechanism  7 , the charging pipe  5  having the tubular sausage skin applied thereto and, possibly, the twist-off mechanism will rotate so as to produce a twist-off point in the sausage strand. In the course of this process, the stuffing material which has already been ejected into the tubular sausage skin is prevented from rotating by means of the conveying belts  110   a ,  110   b . In this way, a separation point is formed between the sausages. The thus formed chain of sausages is advanced by the transport unit  90  in the horizontal direction  490  and arrives at the suspension unit  130 . This suspension unit  130  comprises suspension hooks  15  and a threading unit  17 . The sausage strand emerges from the transport unit  90  between the two conveying belts  110   a ,  110   b  and has its twist-off points attached to the suspension hooks  15  in the threading unit  17 . Due to the fact that further parts of the sausage strand continue to arrive and continue to be attached constantly, the suspension hooks  15  are pushed together so that a spiral sausage strand will be formed. The overall transport direction of the sausage meat and of the sausage portions, respectively, is designated by reference numeral  19 . The approximate height at which the sausage strand moves in the whole arrangement is designated by reference numeral  21 . Subsequent to the suspension unit  130 , the sausage strand, which has been spirally pushed together, is removed and/or advanced to further processing and packing stations. 
     FIG. 1 shows the corresponding part of a sausage processing line with a transport unit  9  according to the present invention. Identical elements are designated by the same reference numerals as in the case of the known arrangement according to FIG.  5 . In FIG. 1 the conveying belt (middle) of the suspension unit  13  is arranged such that it extends at a height  23 , e.g. approx. 130 cm, above the floor, whereas the height  21  at which the charging pipe  5  and of the twist-off mechanism  7 , respectively, extend may be approx. 105 cm. This results in a difference in height  25  of approx. 25 cm; it goes without saying that these figures are only mentioned by way of example. 
     The embodiment  9  of the transport device according to the present invention, which is located between the twist-off mechanism  7  and the suspension unit  13 , comprises conveying-belt areas that extend at an oblique angle upwards. 
     FIG. 2 shows the area of the conveying belts  11   a  and  11   b  of the embodiment  9  according to the present invention in detail. The conveying belts  11   a  and  11   b  are provided with profiled linings  29 , which are only shown in outlines in FIG.  2  and which serve to hold the sausages safely. The endless conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  are guided on guide rails  31  and are both driven by one motor  33 . Reference numeral  39  stands for an incoming sausage. In a first area  41  the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  are arranged in such a way that they convey horizontally in direction  19  over a certain distance, said distance being in practice slightly longer than 15 cm. In said area  41 , the distance between the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  is designated by reference numeral  60  and slightly smaller than the diameter of a sausage  39 , which typically ranges from 1 to 5 cm. Subsequent to said area  41 , the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  move upwards in direction  49  at the angle  27 , said angle being e.g. 30°. in the oblique area  43 , the distance  62  between the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  is slightly larger than the distance  60  in the first area  41 . After the oblique area  43 , the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  are again moved into the horizontal transport direction by the guide rails  31 . The conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  run again parallel in direction  19  over an area  45 . In the third area  45 , the distance  64  between the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  is again smaller than the distance  62  in the oblique area  43 . The absolute size of the distance  64  in the third area  45  can, however, be larger than the filling diameter of a sausage. Numerals  35  and  37  designate spindle mechanisms, which are shown schematically and by means of which the distance between the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  can be adjusted to various sausage diameters, the typical range of adjustment being between approx. 10 and approx. 50 mm. 
     In the return areas  53   a  and  53   b , the endless belts  11   a ,  11   b  are returned by the guide rails  31  along the directions  51   a ,  51   b.    
     In the oblique area  43 , the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  are displaced relative to one another. Two points on the conveying belts  11   a  and  11   b  which are located in directly opposed relationship to one another in the first and third areas  41  and  45  are arranged at a longitudinal distance  66  from one another in the direction of movement  49  in the oblique area  43 , said longitudinal distance  66  originating from the fact that the path which the upper conveying belt  11   a  has to travel in the first deflection area between the first area  41  and the oblique area  43  is shorter than the path travelled by the lower conveying belt  11   b.    
     The deflection of the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  is achieved by means of the guide rails  31  which are provided with respective guide members. Specially, guide rails  47 ,  48  are provided, which guarantee that the respective outer conveying belts  11   b  and  11   a  are guided in the deflection areas between said areas  41  and  43  on the one hand and  43  and  45  on the other. 
     The curved rail  47  is shown in detail in FIG.  3 . The curved rail  48  is implemented analogously. 
     In FIG. 3, the profiled lining  29  for the conveying belt  11   b  is only partially outlined. The profiled lining of conveying belt  11   a  is not shown. Another component which is shown only schematically in FIG. 3 is an underlying support area  55  which will be explained in detail making reference to FIG.  4 . Both the profiled lining  29  and the underlying support area  55  are shown in FIG. 3 only in the area of the curved rail  47 ; they extend, however, along the whole endless conveying belts  11   b  and  11   a , respectively. 
     FIG. 4 shows a section through the guide rails in the direction of sight B of FIG.  3 . 
     The conveying belt  11   b  consists of an underlying support area  55  provided with the profiled lining  29 . The underlying support area  55  engages a shoulder of the guide rail  47  from below so that reliable guiding is also guaranteed in the outer curve area. 
     The apparatus according to the present invention can be employed as follows. 
     To begin with, the distance between the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  is adjusted with the aid of the spindles  35 ,  37  in the third area  45  and in the first area  41 . In so doing, the distance  60  in the first area is chosen such that it is slightly smaller than the desired sausage diameter and the distance in area  45  is chosen such that it corresponds approximately to the stuffing diameter; +/−tolerances in the range of 1-3 mm are possible depending on the respective diameter. The distance  62  between the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  in the oblique area  43  results from the adjustment of the distances  60  and  64  in the first and third areas. 
     The guide rails  31  of the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  are, however, positioned and arranged in such a way that the distance  62  between the conveying belts in the second area  43  is larger than the distance  60  in the first area  41  as well as than the distance  64  in the third area. 
     The stuffing machine  1  is filled through the hopper  3 . The charging pipe  5  has a tubular sausage skin applied thereto. The sausage meat is discharged from the stuffing machine and, passing through the charging pipe, it enters the tubular sausage skin where it is seized by the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  in the first area  41  and transported away in direction  19 . 
     With the aid of the twist-off mechanism  7  a separation point is produced after each desired sausage length in the manner known. A chain of sausages is produced in this way, which is advanced by the transport unit  9 . The chain of sausages is deflected by the angle  27  in direction  43  and moves at an oblique angle upwards. The slightly larger distance  62  between the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  in the second area  43  guarantees that the displacement  66  occurring between the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  due to the non-identical paths of movement of said conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  in the deflection area between the first area  41  and the second area  43  will not cause any injuries in the respective sausage skin, since the friction will then only be very low. 
     The risk of injuries is also reduced in the deflection area itself, since the distance between the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b  increases from area  41  to area  43 . 
     Subsequent to the area  43 , the chain of sausages is again moved into a horizontal position by the conveying belts  11   a ,  11   b . The chain of sausages is conveyed horizontally over the third area  45  and transferred to the suspension unit  13 , where it is attached to the suspension hooks  15  by means of the threading unit  17  in the manner known. 
     Whereas the first area of the transport unit  9  extends on a level  21  above the floor which corresponds to the level of the charging pipe  5  of the sausage machine, the sausage strand is raised by the height  25  to the higher level  23  by the oblique movement upwards in the area  43 . 
     The height  23  can be chosen such that an operator can easily work below the suspension unit  13  so as to be able to knot sausage ends together or to take action in the case of an injured or tom sausage skin material. The height of the stuffing machine  1  need not even be changed in the case of these operations so that the machine can still be filled easily through the hopper and so that safety regulations with respect to the height of the components of the machine will be observed. 
     The embodiment  9  according to the present invention can be used at any location at which the direction of transport of the sausage strand is to be changed. In a particularly advantageous manner it can, however, be used in the form described, where it is used for raising the sausage strand from the low level  21  of the charging pipe  5  to a higher level  23  for the suspension unit  13  so that it is there easily possible to work below the plant.