The present invention relates to a method for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, containing a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, on a clipping machine, and a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products. The method comprises the steps of feeding the filling material in a feeding direction into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on a filling tube and being closed at the front end by a closure means, like a closing clip, limiting the movement of the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing while being pulled-off from the filling tube by a casing brake assembly arranged on the filling tube, gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing by gathering means arranged downstream the filling tube, for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and placing and closing at least one closure means on the plait-like portion for closing the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing. Moreover, the casing brake assembly is moved along the filling tube during the feeding filling material into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing.

The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, by filling a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and closing said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing by a closure device, like a closure clip, and a method for controlling the clipping machine. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding the filling material into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on the filling tube and being closed at its first end, a casing brake assembly for applying a braking force to the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing while being pulled-off from the filling tube, gathering means for gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, the gathering device including a first displacer unit and a second displacer unit, a clipping device having a first and a second closing tool being reversibly movable between an opened position and a closed position, for applying at least one closure device to the plait-like portion and closing said closure device when the closing tools are in their closed position, and at least one drive device for driving at least one component of the clipping machine, including at least one electric motor. The clipping machine further comprises a motor driver unit adapted to operate the electric motor in an accelerating mode for increasing the speed of the electric motor, in a driving mode for maintaining the speed of the electric motor, and in an electric braking mode for decreasing the speed of the electric motor, and a control unit adapted to control the at least one motor driver unit such that during the braking mode electric braking energy is recovered.

The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, by filling a flowable filling material into a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and closing said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing by a closure device, like a closure clip, and a method for controlling the clipping machine. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding the filling material into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on the filling tube and being closed at its first end, a casing brake assembly for applying a braking force to the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing while being pulled-off from the filling tube, gathering means for gathering the filled tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, the gathering device including a first displacer unit and a second displacer unit, a clipping device having a first and a second closing tool being reversibly movable between an opened position and a closed position, for applying at least one closure device to the plait-like portion and closing said closure device when the closing tools are in their closed position, and at least one drive device for driving at least one component of the clipping machine, including at least one electric motor. The clipping machine further comprises a motor driver unit adapted to operate the electric motor in an accelerating mode for increasing the speed of the electric motor, in a driving mode for maintaining the speed of the electric motor, and in an electric braking mode for decreasing the speed of the electric motor, and a control unit adapted to control the at least one motor driver unit such that during the braking mode electric braking energy is recovered.

A filling and portioning system for food products and a method for rotational speed control of a feeder and/or mixing arm and/or counterholding device present thereon for conveying the food product in a filling hopper are described. According thereto, the feeder/mixing arm in the filling hopper can be rotated about itself by way of a motor for conveying the food product and is driven independently of a downstream conveyor mechanism. The counterholding device is also arranged in the filling hopper and can optionally be rotated about itself by way of a motor for conveying the food product and is driven independently of a downstream conveyor mechanism. The rotational speed of at least one of the motors is controlled in an automated manner in dependence of at least one machine or product parameter measured during operation of the filling and portioning system.

The present disclosure relates to a method for aligning a filling machine and a respective filling machine. In the method, the height and/or the inclination of the filling machine is first measured according to an actual state. The measured values are transmitted to a calculation unit. The actual state of the height and/or the inclination is compared with a target state of the height and/or the inclination. The height and/or the inclination of the filling machine are then adjusted on the basis of the comparison.

The present disclosure relates to a method for aligning a filling machine and a respective filling machine. In the method, the height and/or the inclination of the filling machine is first measured according to an actual state. The measured values are transmitted to a calculation unit. The actual state of the height and/or the inclination is compared with a target state of the height and/or the inclination. The height and/or the inclination of the filling machine are then adjusted on the basis of the comparison.

A stuffing apparatus includes a main body case, a stuffing nozzle for discharging a material, a material feed pump for feeding the material into the stuffing nozzle, a pump drive motor for driving the material feed pump, and a conveying device for conveying a stuffed casing in a direction in which the material discharged is discharged, wherein a hopper into which the material is charged from above is provided above the material feed pump, the material feed pump, the pump drive motor, and the hopper are provided on the main body case on which the stuffing nozzle and the conveying device are provided, and the material which is fed from the material feed pump is automatically stuffed by being fed into the stuffing nozzle via a material feed pipe.

A stuffing apparatus includes a main body case, a stuffing nozzle for discharging a material, a material feed pump for feeding the material into the stuffing nozzle, a pump drive motor for driving the material feed pump, and a conveying device for conveying a stuffed casing in a direction in which the material discharged is discharged, wherein a hopper into which the material is charged from above is provided above the material feed pump, the material feed pump, the pump drive motor, and the hopper are provided on the main body case on which the stuffing nozzle and the conveying device are provided, and the material which is fed from the material feed pump is automatically stuffed by being fed into the stuffing nozzle via a material feed pipe.

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 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.