A closing machine for closing sausage products that has a gripper mechanism, a separator mechanism and a stapler mechanism, where at least the stapler mechanism can be driven independently but in coordination with the gripper and separator mechanisms during a cycle of the machine when operating in production mode (P1 to P4) in which the gripper, separator and stapler mechanisms each adopt the same position at the beginning and at the end of the cycle. The machine further comprises a staple supply mechanism for supplying staples to the stapler mechanism that is a staple supply mechanism that can be driven independently of the gripper, separator and stapler mechanisms.

The present invention relates to a system for feeding closure clips to a clipping device of a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages. The system comprises a feeding device for feeding at least a first and a second strand of closure clips towards said clipping device, and a guide device including at least a first and a second guide channel for guiding the at least first and second strand of closure clips towards a closing position of the clipping device of said clipping machine. The guide device includes a holding unit for holding at least one of the first and second strands of closure clips in its position while not being fed by the feeding device. The present invention further relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products which includes a system for feeding closure clips to the clipping device of the clipping machine, a guide device for use in a clipping machine, and a method for producing sausage-shaped products.

A system for manufacturing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, the system comprising a clipping machine and at least a clip reel of a first type and at least a clip reel of a second type, or only at least a clip reel of the second type, each of which is configured to receive a plurality of closure means, like clips, wound thereon. The clip reel of the first type has a hub with a longitudinal center axis and an inner surface provided with first coupling means being arranged at least approximately in the center of the clip reel relative to the longitudinal center axis. The clip reel of the second type has a hub with a longitudinal center axis and an inner surface provided with second coupling means being arranged at least in the vicinity of the center of the clip reel relative to the longitudinal center axis. The clipping machine has at least one reel holding means configured to hold at least one clip reel of the first or the second type and comprises at least one shaft for receiving a clip reel of the first or second type. Furthermore, the clipping machine comprises at least one abutment means against which the clip reel of the first or second type mounted on the shaft abuts in one axial direction of the shaft, and at least one counter-coupling means cooperating with the first or second coupling means of the clip reel of the first or second type for reversibly fixing the clip reel on the shaft in the other axial direction of the shaft.

A filling tube assembly of a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products, like sausages, by filling a filling material into a tubular packaging casing, the filling tube assembly comprising: a revolver plate, which is rotatable about a rotation axis, at least a first filling tube and a second filling tube each having a central axis, wherein the filling tubes are mounted on the revolver plate, at least a first casing brake assembly and a second casing brake assembly, wherein the first casing brake assembly is connected to the first filling tube and the second casing brake assembly is connected to the second filling tube, and a drive device for rotating the revolver plate including the filling tubes about the rotation axis, wherein the central axis of the first filling tube and the central axis of the second filling tube define an angle larger than 0, preferably between 15 and 75, and more preferably between 30 and 60.

The invention relates to a production system for producing sausage-shaped products, in particular sausages, containing a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, the production system comprising: a filling unit for providing and conveying the filling material in filling direction into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing, the filling unit comprising an outlet; a clipping unit for closing the packaging casing filled with the filling material; and a coupling unit extending along a filling axis for coupling the filling unit and the clipping unit, the coupling unit comprising: an adapter piece configured to be arranged at the outlet of the filling unit; a connector piece configured to connect the clipping unit and the adapter piece; and a filling tube configured to be connected to the connector piece for feeding filling material into the tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing stored on the filling tube,
wherein the coupling unit comprises at least one first tool for assembling the adapter piece to and disassembling the adapter piece from the outlet of the filling unit and/or for assembling the adapter piece to and disassembling the adapter piece from the connector piece, wherein the at least one first tool is captively held on the adapter piece and wherein the at least one first tool is arranged rotationally and/or translationally movable relative to the filling axis along the adapter piece.

A method for reconfiguring a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products from a first clipping mode to a second clipping mode, the method comprising the steps of: providing an input to a control unit of the clipping machine indicative of the reconfiguration of the clipping machine from the first clipping mode to the second clipping mode; and changing a number of closure clips, supplied to a closing unit of the clipping machine from a first number of closure clips associated with the first clipping mode, to a second number of closure clips associated with the second clipping mode.

A portioning device is provided for forming portions from elongate casings stuffed with food mass, in particular for forming sausages from alginate casings stuffed with sausage meat. The portioning device includes two circulating conveyor members spaced apart from one another and drivable by at least one drive element, and at least one crimping member arranged on each conveyor member and projecting laterally from the conveyor member. It is proposed that at least one of the crimping members has such a shape, on its functional area that in the conveying area at least partially faces an opposite crimping member, that corrugations, creases and/or folds extending substantially parallel to the conveying direction, in particular, are formed in the constricted portion of the casing, thereby producing a desirable shape for the portions separated.