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.

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.

A cutting machine includes a cutting device and a co-operating conveyor device for conveying food products in a conveying direction. The conveyor device includes at least one conveyor unit having a conveyor belt which is guided by at least one deflection roll and which comes into contact with the food products in the contact area and having at least one guide means for guiding the conveyor belt. The at least one guide means has a first support portion for supporting the conveyor belt at a first height and a second support portion for supporting it at a second height, these heights being spaced apart in a direction extending perpendicularly to the conveying direction, and at least one recess arranged between the first height and the second height, in which the conveyor belt can give way at least partly due to contact with a food product.

A cutting machine includes a cutting device and a co-operating conveyor device for conveying food products in a conveying direction. The conveyor device includes at least one conveyor unit having a conveyor belt which is guided by at least one deflection roll and which comes into contact with the food products in the contact area and having at least one guide means for guiding the conveyor belt. The at least one guide means has a first support portion for supporting the conveyor belt at a first height and a second support portion for supporting it at a second height, these heights being spaced apart in a direction extending perpendicularly to the conveying direction, and at least one recess arranged between the first height and the second height, in which the conveyor belt can give way at least partly due to contact with a food product.

A device for continuously heating foodstuffs includes a channel arranged to receive an electrically conductive liquid. Side walls of the channel include mutually opposite electrodes that are arranged in pairs which are connected to a current source. A first pair of mutually the opposite electrodes is arranged on the side walls of the channel at a distance along the channel. A second pair of mutually opposite electrodes is arranged in electrical contact with the interior of the channel. Each pair of electrodes is electrically connected to a respective one of separate secondary windings of a transformer of the current source. The secondary windings are arranged to be excited by at least one primary winding.

A low profile water bath co-extrusion process for sausage manufacturing is disclosed, along with machines for accomplishing this process. The process is an automated assembly line which begins with co-extruded food product, such as a sausage emulsion coated with collagen and finishes with cooked, boxed, packaged link sausage. The process includes the steps of co-extrusion, linking and cutting the co-extruded food product to individual links. Following these steps and prior to a liquid smoking step, the casing is prepared by steps which includes chemical treatment of the individual links in a water bath, while dehydrating the product in a salt solution, the water bath being a two-part process and following the water bath using a forced hot air drying step. Machines disclosed include a modification of prior art screw driven water bath and a novel roller/conveyor forced hot air drying assembly that subjects individual links of a co-extruded food product to a rolling motion while simultaneously being transported horizontally and being subject to forced hot air drying.

A low profile water bath co-extrusion process for sausage manufacturing is disclosed, along with machines for accomplishing this process. The process is an automated assembly line which begins with co-extruded food product, such as a sausage emulsion coated with collagen and finishes with cooked, boxed, packaged link sausage. The process includes the steps of co-extrusion, linking and cutting the co-extruded food product to individual links. Following these steps and prior to a liquid smoking step, the casing is prepared by steps which includes chemical treatment of the individual links in a water bath, while dehydrating the product in a salt solution, the water bath being a two-part process and following the water bath using a forced hot air drying step. Machines disclosed include a modification of prior art screw driven water bath and a novel roller/conveyor forced hot air drying assembly that subjects individual links of a co-extruded food product to a rolling motion while simultaneously being transported horizontally and being subject to forced hot air drying.

A system for dispensing material contained in a collapsible package from a dispensing device. The system includes a piercing nozzle attachable to a dispensing end of the dispensing device, and a plunger attachable to a plunger rod of the dispensing device configured to compress the package against the piercing nozzle. The piercing nozzle includes a nozzle sidewall and a nozzle end wall defining an internal nozzle cavity configured to receive a first end of the package. One or more recessed members extend into the internal nozzle cavity in part from a recessed member. The piercing projection pierce the package when compressed thereagainst, allowing the material in the package to be dispensed through a nozzle opening. An internal nozzle rib can extend across a nozzle opening defined through the nozzle end wall.

A method for stuffing food products in casings comprising the steps that consist in inserting the product to be stuffed in a first casing, which is permeable to air, and in a second casing, which is impermeable to air and is arranged outside the first casing, creating an at least partial vacuum at least between the first casing and the second casing.

A method for stuffing food products in casings comprising the steps that consist in inserting the product to be stuffed in a first casing, which is permeable to air, and in a second casing, which is impermeable to air and is arranged outside the first casing, creating an at least partial vacuum at least between the first casing and the second casing.