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.

The present disclosure relates to a displacement element pair for dividing a sausage strand, conveyed between the displacement elements, into individual sausages, each displacement element having at least one wing with a first wing section and a second wing section between which an outwardly widening, in particular V-shaped cutout is formed, both the first and the second wing section having a laterally curved pocket or an opening. The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding apparatus for dividing a sausage strand.

An ejector device is provided for food portions, and in particular for sausages. A food portion in a conveying area between two conveyor belts is engaged in a conveying mode and can be conveyed in the conveying direction. It is proposed that the ejector device has at least one adjustment mechanism for ejecting a food portion in an ejection area, which is so designed that the distance of the conveyor belts from each other in the conveying area can be partially varied. A method of ejecting food portions is also provided, in which it is proposed that the food portions be taken out of engagement with the conveyor belts as described above.

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.

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.

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 food product includes a first extruded component, a second extruded component co-extruded over the first component, the second component comprising a meat component and an additive, and a casing provided over the second component, wherein the additive comprises at least one of a flavoring, a seasoning, and a coloring.

A portioning-twisting machine for producing cured sausages includes a product portioning element (3) and a twisting element (4) wherein portions are stuffed into a continuous casing and they are twisted. The portioning element (3) and the twisting element (4) are arranged so that the product moves between them linearly, i.e., without changing direction from when it is introduced into the machine to be portioned to its output forming stuffed units, after being twisted in the casing. The twisting element (4) is actuated in its rotation by a second motor (19), which operates independently from the first motor (10), which actuates the rotation of the portioning element (3). The transmission means (20) that link the second motor (19) to the twisting element (4) are accommodated and protected in a frame (21) provided externally on the side of the housing (2) and includes at least one belt (22).

A portioning-twisting machine for producing cured sausages includes a product portioning element (3) and a twisting element (4) wherein portions are stuffed into a continuous casing and they are twisted. The portioning element (3) and the twisting element (4) are arranged so that the product moves between them linearly, i.e., without changing direction from when it is introduced into the machine to be portioned to its output forming stuffed units, after being twisted in the casing. The twisting element (4) is actuated in its rotation by a second motor (19), which operates independently from the first motor (10), which actuates the rotation of the portioning element (3). The transmission means (20) that link the second motor (19) to the twisting element (4) are accommodated and protected in a frame (21) provided externally on the side of the housing (2) and includes at least one belt (22).

A sausage cutting apparatus 10 for cutting an extruded length of sausage into smaller sausage portions includes first and second cutting assemblies located at opposite sides of a feed path. The cutting assemblies include flexible toothed belts 38 driven by toothed pinions, to which a number of longitudinally-spaced cutting device 30 are fixedly attached. The apparatus includes a drive system for synchronously driving the belts 38 and a guide system for guiding displacement of the cutting devices into and out of meshing engagement with one another for cutting the length of sausage. Each cutting device includes a cutting blade defining a domed cutting face at an inner side thereof. The cutting devices are displaced along arcuate cutter paths during meshing engagement of the cutting blades wherein the cutting faces of opposing pairs of cutting blades mesh with a slight interference fit in a conjugate meshing action.