Patent ID: 7306511

Claim:
An apparatus with interchangeable horns for engaging a filler/product pump and supplying elongate casings for encasing products therein, comprising: a housing having a support structure and opposing upstream and downstream end portions; a first horn releaseably mountable to the housing support structure, the first horn having a length, an outer surface and an internal flow channel therein, wherein, in operation, the first horn is configured to direct casing material to travel over the outer surface while product travels through the internal flow channel; and a horn rotor assembly releasably mountable to the housing support structure, the horn rotor assembly comprising a pivotable second horn with an outer surface and an intermediate pipe segment, each having a respective internal flow channel therein, wherein the second horn has an operative position whereby the second horn is in axial alignment with the intermediate pipe segment and a loading position whereby the second horn pivots laterally away from the operative position and the intermediate pipe segment, and wherein, in operation, product travels through the intermediate flow channel into the pivotable second horn while the second horn is adapted to allow a supply of casing material to travel over the outer surface thereof.