Patent · US Expired

Method and means for making and conveying an extruded sausage strand

US6056636A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
20References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 29, 1998
Grant dateMay 2, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 29, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA22C15/002
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for producing and processing a strand of sausage or foodstuff has a sausage producing machine which produces a linked strand of sausage for deposit of loops of the strand on the hooks of a continuous conveyor. The conveyor picks up the loops of the strand at a loading station immediately adjacent the discharge end of the machine, and conveys the loops to a processing station for smoking or the like. The conveyor then moves the loops to an unloading station for removal of the strand from the conveyor, whereupon the conveyor downstream of the unloading station returns to the loading station to pick up additional product. A conveyor take-up mechanism is located immediately downstream from the loading station to permit the conveyor to cease movement at the loading station (while the casing on the machine is being replenished) while the conveyor can continue movement in the processing area. Sensors and controls interconnect the machine and the conveyor to coordinate the operational functions of each. A method of producing and processing a strand of sausage or foodstuff involves producing a linked strand of material, depositing linked loops thereof on the hooks of a moving c…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.