An apparatus for processing a foodstuff material is provided, specifically for producing sausage products from sausage meat. The apparatus includes a stationary housing which has a wall and which can be connected in fluid-conducting relationship to a conveyor pump, and has a discharge opening for delivery of the foodstuff material. Arranged within the housing is an element for partially swirling the foodstuff material within the housing, which is rotatable relative to the wall and along which in operation at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material to be conveyed flows. The rotatable element ends within the housing before the discharge opening for delivery of the foodstuff material. The apparatus can produce a string with a substantially cylindrical outer contour from a foodstuff material like sausage meat.

There is provided a system and a process for picking up and transporting a casing of indefinite length into relationship with a device, such as a device for measuring the diameter of the casing. The process comprises the steps: i) placing the casing on a support; ii) directing an actuated arm equipped with a finger towards the casing; iii) moving the actuated arm away from the support and activating rollers to coil the casing onto the finger; and iv) moving the finger with the casing to a device, such as a device for measuring the diameter thereof, and decoiling the casing to transfer the casing to the device.

There is provided a system and a process for picking up and transporting a casing of indefinite length into relationship with a device, such as a device for measuring the diameter of the casing. The process comprises the steps: i) placing the casing on a support; ii) directing an actuated arm equipped with a finger towards the casing; iii) moving the actuated arm away from the support and activating rollers to coil the casing onto the finger; and iv) moving the finger with the casing to a device, such as a device for measuring the diameter thereof, and decoiling the casing to transfer it to the device.

A double tube encasing apparatus and methods of encasing for encasing meat products in a double casing including a film (e.g. collagen film) and a net in which a first tube is loaded with a height reduced shirred film and a second coaxial tube which supports a shirred netting. In one embodiment a casing tube is placed over a meat stuffing horn and is preloaded with a loose shirred film. A second casing tube which supports the netting is pushed or placed over the loose shirred film, and causes a reduction in diameter of the loose shirred film for example by forcing the vertically pleated shirred film to layback.

An apparatus for processing a foodstuff material is provided, specifically for producing sausage products from sausage meat. The apparatus includes a stationary housing which has a wall and which can be connected in fluid-conducting relationship to a conveyor pump, and has a discharge opening for delivery of the foodstuff material. Arranged within the housing is an element for partially swirling the foodstuff material within the housing, which is rotatable relative to the wall and along which in operation at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material to be conveyed flows. The rotatable element ends within the housing before the discharge opening for delivery of the foodstuff material. The apparatus can produce a string with a substantially cylindrical outer contour from a foodstuff material like sausage meat.

A method is provided for equipping at least one filling tube of an apparatus for filling tubular cases with a gathered tubular case. The method includes opening at least one gripping element of a case gripping device, feeding a gathered tubular case into a region of the at least one gripping element of the case gripping device, and closing at least one gripping element for fixing and axially centering the case. The method also includes moving the filling tube and the gripping device relative to each other towards each other for introducing the filling tube into an interior space of the case, partially opening at least one gripping element, and moving the filling tube and the gripping device relative to each other towards each other, such that the filling tube entrains the case and the case is guided by the gripping elements.

An apparatus for filling tubular cases with a pasty material, such as gathered sausage skin casings with sausage meat, is provided. The apparatus includes at least one filling tube, which is rotatable and drivable about its longitudinal axis and on to which a case which can be filled with the material can be pulled, a receiving portion at which the filling tube is rotatably received, and a drive unit for driving the filling tube. The apparatus advantageously includes a magnetic coupling for making and breaking an at least force-locking torque transmission between the drive unit and the filling tube, which has a drive rotor and a driven roller that is displaceable relative to the drive rotor in the longitudinal direction of the filling tube. Thus, the positioning during filling is reliable and performed with simplified structure. A filling machine including the apparatus is also provided.

A coextrusion head for a food processing machine includes a feed line section having an inner pipe for conducting in the production direction a food mass to be formed into a strand. An inlet end of the inner pipe is connectable to an outlet of a stuffing machine. A housing extends in the production direction from the feed line section and surrounding the inner pipe. A receiving chamber, formed between the inner pipe and the housing, for a casing material to be applied to the strand. The receiving chamber has a housing inlet for the casing material. The feed line section and the housing are integrally embodied and the coextrusion head further includes a die attachment that has a die opening shaped correspondingly to the inner pipe and that is connected to the housing. A food processing machine having a coextrusion head and a corresponding assembly method are disclosed.

A method is provided for equipping at least one filling tube of an apparatus for filling tubular cases with a gathered tubular case. The method includes opening at least one gripping element of a case gripping device, feeding a gathered tubular case into a region of the at least one gripping element of the case gripping device, and closing at least one gripping element for fixing and axially centering the case. The method also includes moving the filling tube and the gripping device relative to each other towards each other for introducing the filling tube into an interior space of the case, partially opening at least one gripping element, and moving the filling tube and the gripping device relative to each other towards each other, such that the filling tube entrains the case and the case is guided by the gripping elements.

An apparatus is provided for filling tubular cases with a pasty material, in particular gathered sausage skin casings with sausage meat. The filling apparatus includes at least one filling tube on to which a case which can be filled with the material can be pulled, a receiving portion receiving a first end of the filling tube, a casing braking unit which is associated with the oppositely disposed second open end and which can be brought into operative connected relationship with the case which has been pulled over the filling tube, and a support device arranged at the receiving portion for the filling tube. The support device has at least one support portion which is variable in spacing relative to the receiving portion and which is adapted to be brought into contact with a gathered case on the filling tube for receiving transverse forces.