Process for the continuous manufacture of sausages

Abstract

A process and apparatus for the continuous manufacture of food products such as sausages is provided which eliminates the need for intermediate stuffing of the food product into casings which are discarded prior to final packaging. The preferred apparatus of the invention includes first and second heated rollers (16, 17) each presenting a plurality of elongated, axially aligned channels or recesses (18,20) which are circumferentially and axially spaced on the corresponding rollers (16, 17); in addition, the second roller (17) includes a series of elongated, continuous, tube-receiving openings (22) extending between each series of aligned openings (20). Mechanisms (28, 29) are associated with the rollers (16, 17) in order to continuously feed elongated synthetic resin sheets (34, 35) into the nip between the rollers (16, 17). Rollers (24, 27) are provided for forcing portions of the sheets (34,35) into the recesses (18,20) and openings (22) prior to passage of the sheets (34,35) between the rollers (16, 17) where they are longitudinally heat sealed together to continuously form elongated, aligned food-receiving cavities (48). A plurality of feeding tubes (11) extend through the rollers (16, 17) and are located within the corresponding openings (22) and recesses (20) during rotation of the rollers (16, 17). The tubes (11) continuously direct the flowing food material into the cavities (48), the latter being transversely heat sealed via transverse sealing bars (60, 60′) to form complete, enclosed food packages.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The instant invention relates to a novel process for the continuous manufacture of sausages, to a machine for carrying out said process and to the product thus obtained.[0002]The process and machine of the instant invention may be used for manufacturing and packaging different varieties of sausages in the market, and in a preferred embodiment, the process and machine of the invention is used for manufacturing the known German sausages or of the frankfurter type.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Prior Art[0004]At present, it is known that stuffed food, particularly sausages, are stuffed into a tripe or synthetic material (plastics) tube which then have to be “peeled” in order that the sausage may be packed.[0005]Known processes are comparatively expensive and time consuming, since they require steps that are deleted by the use of the method of the invention. In fact, summarizing the present operation, the food material is stuffed into a very long synthet...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a process and machine for making sausages, particularly German kind sausages, in a continuous way using a single container. This process eliminates the need for expensive synthetic tripe and reduces costs associated with the conventional process. The sausages are packed and then cooked without any possibility of air or wrinkles. The pressure under which the sausage paste is packed prevents any loss of product during production. The process also reduces handling operations, increases production yield, and decreases surface area requirements. The machine for carrying out the process is a single machine of reduced size and higher production speed compared to conventional machines. The continuous process involves the steps of feeding sheets, forming molds, sealing the sheets, and filling the molds with the sausage. The machine includes rollers and a device for feeding the sausage. The invention also includes means for forming half of the individual molds and means for sealing the transversal joints of the molds. The excess sheet material is cut and wrapped. Overall, the invention offers economic advantages, increased production yield, and improved production efficiency."

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, the cost is highly increased by the technology involved in manufacture.

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