The present invention relates to a guide device for guiding a suspension element, like a loop, being attached to one end of a sausage-shaped product, like a sausage, from a first apparatus, like an apparatus for producing sausage-shaped products, in a guide direction to a second apparatus, like a handling device for said sausage-shaped products. The guide device comprises a guide unit for guiding the suspension element and support means for radially and axially supporting the guide unit. According to the present invention, the support means comprise a first support unit and a second support unit for a functional separation of the axial support and the radial support of the guide unit.

The present invention relates to a guide device for guiding a suspension element, like a loop, being attached to one end of a sausage-shaped product, like a sausage, from a first apparatus, like an apparatus for producing sausage-shaped products, in a guide direction to a second apparatus, like a handling device for said sausage-shaped products. The guide device comprises a guide unit for guiding the suspension element and support means for radially and axially supporting the guide unit. According to the present invention, the support means comprise a first support unit and a second support unit for a functional separation of the axial support and the radial support of the guide unit.

A stuffing machine for food products, comprising a framework that supports at least one die, provided with a recess designed to receive a product to be stuffed, and pusher means adapted to translate the product to be stuffed, formed in the die, through a stuffing tube; at least one conveyor is also provided which is adapted to move the die along at least one forward path from at least one loading position, in which the die is adapted to receive the product to be stuffed, to a working position, in which the die is substantially at a region of action of the pusher means, and along at least one return path from the working position to the loading position; the conveyor is adapted to keep the die with the concavity of its recess directed upwardly along the forward path and along the return path.

A method for economically retrieving pre-rigor lean and fat for pork sausage from a butcher hog; barrow (a male pig that has been castrated) or gilt (female pig less than six months old that has never been pregnant), (a pig approximately 285 lbs live weight, 6 months old and ready for market with no abnormalities). Retrieving pre-rigor pork sausage from a butcher hog is not known currently in the industry because the perception is that it is not economically feasible. The process technology as disclosed and claimed herein is a new method for economically retrieving and processing certain sections of a butcher hog for producing ground pork sausage while maintaining the value from the primal cuts. The ground pork sausage from this process has comparable texture, color, consistency and other characteristics as compared to the pork sausage retrieved from the older sows, which are typically utilized in industry. In the present technology as disclosed and claimed herein, the process harvests certain sections from butcher hogs at 1 hour to 1 hour and 45 minutes post mortem. The process harvests certain sections of the butcher hog pre-rigor meat including the picnic, jowl, cheek meat, temple, head back, pate and trace lean.

The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, by filling a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing with filling material and closing said filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing. The clipping machine includes a filling tube through which the filling material is fed into said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing which is stored on said filling tube, a casing brake assembly arranged on the filling tube for limiting the movement of the tubular packaging casing at least while being filled, gathering means for gathering said filled tubular packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and a clipping device for applying at least one closure means, like a closure clip, to the plait-like portion formed on the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing in a closing region. The clipping machine further comprises a housing defining at least a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls of the clipping machine, for enclosing at least the clipping device and the gathering means. The housing includes at least one housing element arranged in the front wall of the housing for covering at least the closing region, wherein the at least one housing element is coupled to the clipping machine by a linking device including a shifting mechanism for reversibly shifting the housing element relative to the clipping machine, in a shifting direction, for granting access to the closing region of the clipping machine.

The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, by filling a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing with filling material and closing said filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing. The clipping machine includes a filling tube through which the filling material is fed into said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing which is stored on said filling tube, a casing brake assembly arranged on the filling tube for limiting the movement of the tubular packaging casing at least while being filled, gathering means for gathering said filled tubular packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and a clipping device for applying at least one closure means, like a closure clip, to the plait-like portion formed on the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing in a closing region. The clipping machine further comprises a housing defining at least a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls of the clipping machine, for enclosing at least the clipping device and the gathering means. The housing includes at least one housing element arranged in the front wall of the housing for covering at least the closing region, wherein the at least one housing element is coupled to the clipping machine by a linking device including a shifting mechanism for reversibly shifting the housing element relative to the clipping machine, in a shifting direction, for granting access to the closing region of the clipping machine.

A casing brake assembly is provided for applying a frictional force to a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing being arranged on a filling tube of a production apparatus, like a clipping machine, which is used in the production of sausage-shaped products, like sausages, and for limiting the movement of said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing at least while being filled. The casing brake assembly comprises tubular support means for supporting at least one brake element having an at least approximately ring-shaped design. The casing brake assembly further comprises a tubular bushing for accommodating the tubular support means and the at least one brake element, and an attachment device including an at least approximately tubular accommodation portion for accommodating the tubular bushing, and at least one attachment portion configured for attaching the casing brake assembly to the production apparatus. Furthermore, an apparatus for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, includes a mounting device for reversibly mounting a casing brake assembly thereto and a casing brake assembly for applying a frictional force to the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing while being filled.

Fluid distribution systems for use in meat-handling facilities include a fluid distribution assembly for fluidly coupling with a fluid supply where the fluid distribution assembly comprises at least one valve for alternately supplying fluid to a first nozzle assembly and a second nozzle assembly. The fluid distribution assembly may further include at least one motor for oscillating the nozzle assemblies. Cabinet assemblies for use in meat-handling facilities may include a fluid distribution system. Valve assemblies may include a diverter for selectively supplying fluid to at least two outlets. Methods of washing at least a portion of a carcass include spraying fluid onto the at least a portion of the carcass with a first set of nozzle assemblies and with a second set of nozzle assemblies positioned over the first set of nozzle assemblies.

In a device for manufacturing co-extruded food products with a filling machine, including a pump for an inner mass coupled to a drive and a control unit at least for the drive, to which a coextrusion unit disposed at the outside is connected, and to which a pump being coupled to a drive at least for delivering the outer mass to the coextrusion unit is connected. The drive of the outer mass pump is integrated into the inner mass filling machine.

Method and apparatus for twist linking tubular casings for stuffing tubular casings is disclosed. A method for twist linking tubular casings includes twisting a tubular casing such that the number of twists per portion or per group of portions is varied during the processing of a tubular casing. An apparatus for twist linking tubular casings, which is configured to twist the tubular casings to form portions having a variable number of twists per portion or per group of portions, includes a control unit configured to perform the disclosed method for twist linking tubular casings.