A system and method for processing a coextruded meat product including a casing enclosing a meat batter after brining in which a heated, high velocity air stream is applied to the coextruded meat product thereby mechanically removing moisture from a surface of the casing and cooking the coextruded meat product. This system and method can further improve the ability for a liquid coating to be added to the coextruded meat product in a non-drenching manner because of the superior surface preparation of the casing by the jets.

A system and method for processing a coextruded meat product including a casing enclosing a meat batter after brining in which a heated, high velocity air stream is applied to the coextruded meat product thereby mechanically removing moisture from a surface of the casing and cooking the coextruded meat product. This system and method can further improve the ability for a liquid coating to be added to the coextruded meat product in a non-drenching manner because of the superior surface preparation of the casing by the jets.

An apparatus is provided for dividing up tubular cases which are filled with a pasty material such as sausage meat. The dividing apparatus includes two circulating transport elements arranged on mutually opposite sides of the case, and the transport elements respectively include one or more dividing elements and a plurality of guide parts, and at least one drive device for the transport elements. The dividing elements are so arranged at the transport elements and are so guided along the case that only one pair of dividing elements can be simultaneously brought into engagement with the case. The dividing apparatus can create various lengths of filled cases with minimal complexity.

A closure module and a method for closing and/or separating filled sausage casings connected via a sausage neck, comprising, in at least one example, a first electrode and a second electrode located opposite the first one, the electrodes being arranged such that a sausage neck can be placed therebetween and being adapted to be moved relative to each other and towards the sausage neck to such an extent that a current can flow from the first electrode into the sausage neck and via the sausage neck into the second electrode.

A closure module and a method for closing and/or separating filled sausage casings connected via a sausage neck, comprising, in at least one example, a first electrode and a second electrode located opposite the first one, the electrodes being arranged such that a sausage neck can be placed therebetween and being adapted to be moved relative to each other and towards the sausage neck to such an extent that a current can flow from the first electrode into the sausage neck and via the sausage neck into the second electrode.

A closure module and a method for closing and/or separating filled sausage casings connected via a sausage neck, comprising two stamps movable relative to and towards each other and arranged such that a sausage neck can be placed therebetween, the stamps being capable of clamping the sausage neck in a closed condition, and further comprising a first and a second electrode, through which, in a closed condition of the stamps, a current can flow from the first electrode into the sausage neck and via the sausage neck into the second electrode.

A food-processing system having a metering pump for filling a casing with food material, a linker for forming links in the filled casing and depositing a linked strand on a conveyor, and a plurality of servo motors arranged to drive each of a plurality of driven components of the processing system. The food-processing system being implemented according to a two-step ramp-up method that enables increased control of a first end and a second end of the linked strand using a first speed, and enables faster processing of the linked strand between the ends at a second speed higher than the first speed.

A food-processing system having a metering pump for filling a casing with food material, a linker for forming links in the filled casing and depositing a linked strand on a conveyor, and a plurality of servo motors arranged to drive each of a plurality of driven components of the processing system. The food-processing system being implemented according to a two-step ramp-up method that enables increased control of a first end and a second end of the linked strand using a first speed, and enables faster processing of the linked strand between the ends at a second speed higher than the first speed.

The invention relates to a forming device for forming and partitioning a pasty food strand as well as to a filling machine with a respective forming device and to a method. The forming device comprises more than two flat displacement elements superposed in the direction of transport of the food strand, each having at least one opening through which the food strand can be moved in the direction of transport. The forming device further comprises a movement mechanism for moving the flat displacement elements on respective curved paths, such that the respective openings can move relative to each other, so that the cross-sectional area of the resulting overall opening of the superposed openings changes.

A filling apparatus for and method of filling gathered tubular cases is provided. The filling apparatus includes a filling tube onto which a gathered tubular case can be pushed, and a moveable receiving portion which accommodates a first end of the filling tube and which is adapted to move the filling tube into a charging position in which the case can be put on to the filling tube and into a filling position in which the case can be filled. The filling apparatus also includes a pushing-on device which is moveable axially relative to the filling tube longitudinal axis for pushing the case on to the filling tube in the charging position, an axially moveable entrainment ring arranged on the filling tube, and a sensing device for ascertaining the position of the entrainment ring and/or the pushing-on device.