Patent ID: 7392642

Claim:
A casing tube packaging device comprising: a single feeder tube connecting a casing fill unit to a single casing closing device, a hookup for attaching a first end of the feeder tube to the casing fill unit, a feeder tube mouth positioned at a second end of the feeder tube, the single feeder tube comprising a generally straight, first feeder tube segment, the first feeder tube segment extending from the hookup and having a first longitudinal axis, and a second feeder tube segment conjoined with the first feeder tube segment, the second feeder tube segment extending from the feeder tube mouth; the first feeder tube segment adapted to accept and conduct around its outer surface a plastic film casing formed around the first feeder tube segment from a plastic film strip infeed; the second feeder tube segment adapted to further conduct the plastic film casing onto the second feeder tube segment prior to operation of the device; and a feeder tube swivel bearing pivotable about the first longitudinal feeder tube axis, located upstream before the feeder tube first segment, wherein the single feeder tube exhibits at least one change of direction between the first and second feeder tube segment, wherein the single feeder tube is pivotable about the first longitudinal axis of the first feeder tube segment, and where the feeder tube swivel bearing comprises a first element configured to be attached to a housing about at least a portion of the single feeder tube and a second element, the single feeder tube being connected to the second element.