Filling Tube Casing Loading Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for loading shirred tubular casings onto filling tubes often result in damage to the casings, particularly at the knots, and the arrangement of multiple filling tubes is not necessary for all production applications, necessitating a more gentle and compact loading process.
Innovation Solution
The method involves moving the filling tube and/or the gripping device relative to each other to insert the filling tube into the casing interior, with partial opening of the gripping elements to center and guide the casing, and using a skin brake to prevent damage during loading, allowing for flexible penetration depth and axial movement to ensure proper alignment and minimize pressure on the casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filling tube is pushed onto the casing using closed gripping elements, then the casing is securely held and centered, but damage occurs to the shirred tubular casing particularly at the knots
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping elements are designed to change their state dynamically during the loading process: initially closed to secure and center the casing, then partially opened to reduce pressure and prevent damage during the pushing motion. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between secure holding and damage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The casing is first centered and secured by the closed gripping elements before the pushing action begins. This preliminary centering ensures proper alignment, and then the gripping elements are partially opened before the actual pushing to minimize damage during the critical loading phase.
2Productivity
If multiple filling tubes are arranged on a rotatable base body, then loading and filling can occur in different operating positions, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single filling tube device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can both load the casing and fill the sausage meat in different operating positions. The filling tube can be rotated to a loading position for casing application and then to a filling position for meat dispensing, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated tubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling tube is designed to be rotatable and movable between different operating positions (loading position and filling position). This dynamic repositioning allows one tube to replace multiple static tubes, reducing device complexity while maintaining productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for loading at least one filling tube (20) of a device (8) for filling tubular casings with a gathered, tubular casing (16), comprising at least the steps of: opening at least one gripping element (42, 42') of a casing gripping device (12), feeding a gathered, tubular casing (16) into a region of the at least one gripping element (42, 42') of the casing gripping device (16), closing at least one gripping element (42, 42') to fix and axially center the casing (16) along a longitudinal axis of a filling tube (20).According to the invention, the following process steps are proposed: moving the filling tube (20) and/or the gripping device (12) relative to each other towards each other to introduce the filling tube (20) into an interior of the shell (16), partially opening at least one gripping element (42, 42'), moving the filling tube (20) and/or the gripping device (12) relative to each other towards each other, wherein the filling tube (20) carries the shell (16) along in the direction of movement of the filling tube (20) and the shell (16) is guided through the gripping elements (42, 42').