A filling machine and a method for filling a pasty mass, in particular for the production of sausages, with a delivery pump for conveying the pasty mass with a first drive, and a dosing pump that is coupled to an outlet of the delivery pump and a transmission train via which the dosing pump is coupled to a second drive integrated into the filling machine housing.

The invention relates to a filling machine and a method for filling a pasty mass, in particular for the production of sausages, with a vane cell pump for conveying the paste mass, a vacuum pump for generating negative pressure in the vane cell pump, where the housing of the vane cell pump comprises an evacuation opening via which the vacuum pump can evacuate the vane cells. The evacuation opening is formed in the cover of the vane cell pump.

Food or feed processing systems (10, 96) include an extruder (14) and a downstream processor (16, 16a), and are operable to process high meat food or feed formulations. The processors (16, 16a) include an elongated processor barrel (38) presenting an inner surface (44) with a central body or tube (60) within the barrel (38) and presenting an outer surface (62). The surfaces (38, 62) thereby define an elongated annular processing region (70). The barrel (38) and tube (60) are steam heated by means of apparatus (52, 66). A rotatable processing element (72) is also located within the region (70). The element (72) has a plurality of helical vanes (88, 104), which scrape the surfaces (44, 62) to prevent buildup of material on these surfaces.

A method and installation for processing a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example a ground meat mass. The installation comprises a hopper and a positive displacement pump having an inlet and an outlet. A tube structure connects to the outlet of the pump and has a mouth, e.g. leading to a molding device or a sausage machine. A controllable vacuum assembly causes controlled evacuation of air from the mass in the trajectory of the mass from the hopper to a pump chamber. A controllable aeration assembly causes controlled introduction of a gas into the mass at one or more locations in the trajectory of the mass between the pump outlet and the mouth. A gas pressure control device introduces gas into the mass at a controlled pressure that is at least equal to the actual pressure of the mass at the location of introduction of the gas.

A method and installation for processing a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example a ground meat mass. The installation comprises a hopper and a positive displacement pump having an inlet and an outlet. A tube structure connects to the outlet of the pump and has a mouth, e.g. leading to a molding device or a sausage machine. A controllable vacuum assembly causes controlled evacuation of air from the mass in the trajectory of the mass from the hopper to a pump chamber. A controllable aeration assembly causes controlled introduction of a gas into the mass at one or more locations in the trajectory of the mass between the pump outlet and the mouth. A gas pressure control device introduces gas into the mass at a controlled pressure that is at least equal to the actual pressure of the mass at the location of introduction of the gas.

A conveying device is provided for a pasty food product such as meat or pasta products. The conveying device includes a housing having a food inlet and a food outlet and a conveying chamber, a first conveying screw rotatably arranged in the conveying chamber and a second conveying screw rotatably arranged in the conveying chamber. The first and the second conveying screws are arranged with their axes of rotation substantially parallel with each other and have intermeshing helical coils. The pitch of the coils of the conveying screws becomes continuously smaller in at least one section between the inlet and the outlet, thereby to precisely portion the food product while avoiding smearing or gas bubble formations.

A conveying device is provided for a pasty food product such as meat or pasta products. The conveying device includes a housing having a food inlet and a food outlet and a conveying chamber, a first conveying screw rotatably arranged in the conveying chamber and a second conveying screw rotatably arranged in the conveying chamber. The first and the second conveying screws are arranged with their axes of rotation substantially parallel with each other and have intermeshing helical coils. The pitch of the coils of the conveying screws becomes continuously smaller in at least one section between the inlet and the outlet, thereby to precisely portion the food product while avoiding smearing or gas bubble formations.